#IStandWithAfreenFatima: Tharoor, Owaisi and others speak up

Following the Uttar Pradesh government demolishing the residence of Welfare Party of India leader Javed Mohammed and daughter Afreen Fatima, who is a noted ex-student activist from JNU, the silence of top leaders on the matter was deafening.

However, a few individuals used their platform to speak up against the bulldozing of the activist’s house. The hashtag #IStandWithAfreenFatima trended on Twitter on Sunday.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi, activist Khaled Beydoun, and journalist Rana Ayyub were among the few.

22-year-old Afreen’s father Javed Mohammed is named as being the key conspirator in violent protests against suspended Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson (BJP) Nupur Sharma in UP, where arson and stone-pelting were reported.

Shocked to receive this from JNU with the update that the family’s home has been demolished: https://t.co/iQ2BEJ9kFt
Due process of law is fundamental to democracy. Under what law & following what process has this been done? Has UP exempted itself from the Constitution of India?
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 12, 2022

In solidarity with @AfreenFatima136 & her family. Teni’s son is accused of killing 5 people. SC has cancelled his bail. But his house is safe. Yati & his accomplices are roaming freely. Cops carrying out custodial torture receive laurels but being a vocal Muslim is a crime 1/2
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) June 12, 2022

The demolition of @AfreenFatima136's house y'day was carried out with forged back-dated demolition notices & was an entirely illegal act by UP govt.

Have asked DM Prayagraj to furnish all related papers.

If not punished in courts, this will never stop. #StandWithAfreenFatima pic.twitter.com/GhvBa7MA6t
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) June 13, 2022