Author: OpIndia Staff
Publication: Opindia.com
Date: December 26, 2016
URL:   http://www.opindia.com/2016/12/mohammad-shami-mohammad-kaif-barkha-dutt-and-political-correctness/

Mohammed Shami may have troubled many batsmen in his career through his swing and speed, but on 23rd December, Shami himself became a victim of religious bigotry and pseudo-liberal swing. The ace-pacer posted a photo on his Facebook page in which his wife was wearing a sleeveless gown.

This was enough for religious fanatics to abuse Shami, demean his wife, and remind him morality of Islam which he must have followed being a Muslim:

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Sahabu Ansari Bhai me a bhat aap se yehi kahuga aap apne bibi ko Islami tarike par rakho sami bhai Allah ke liye

Salman Ansari sharam karo sar ap ek muslim ho bibi ko parde me rakho aur kuch sikho amla ali aur bhi bahut saro sr

Mohemmed Nowsath I have doubt your wife muslim or another religion girl?? Pls afraid to allah

Mohammed Belal Rizvi Sharm aani chahie sami, marna h ek din ye mat bhulo bibiyo ko kaise rakha jaye apne sathi cricker pathan brother se sikho

Qiamuddin Ansari Sami tum Muslim ho our achhi tarah jante ho ki ourt ko kaisea rakha jata ha yah sobha nahi deta

Asdar Khan Sami bhi aap ek sunni musalman hai Allah karke wife ko parde me rakha to bahut meharbani hogi Irfan pathan bhai apni wife ke sath pic post karte hai wo dekha hai aap kasam kya kubsurti dikhti Allah aap ko bhi suniyut par chale ki hidayat de

MD Musharof Taluckdar Are you Muslim?

Arsh Khan Mohammad shami Apki wife ka itna bada gala pehni hain Aapko sharam nahi

Dilshad Alam shami sb apki wife to bahut cute hain but inko western culture me na ekho to behtr hoga

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Shami is not the first victim of religious bigotry. In 2005, a cleric issued fatwa against Sania Mirza for wearing short skirts and revealing tops on the international tennis circuit. He said that Islam does not allow women to wear skirts, shorts, and sleeveless tops in public.

The comments on Shami’s Facebook page made similar arguments, but political correctness of media made sure that the ensuring outrage, which took place only after another cricketer Mohammad Kaif joined the debate, steered clear of mentioning this aspect.

Just like it was a “Truck” that killed 9 people in Berlin, this time, it was “social media” which trolled Shami. It was not religious fanaticism, but internet trolling; it was not extremism or bigotry, but some stupid people intruding personal life of a celebrity.

Controversial NDTV journalist Barkha Dutt had this to say:

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barkha dutt @BDUTT
Seriously ? This is true ? If so shameful. Not because there are "bigger issues" but because it's no one's business. Vile, utterly https://twitter.com/MohammadKaif/status/813055964433752064 …
10:23 PM - 25 Dec 2016

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We have seen how Barkha was all over the place when a robbery attempt in a Delhi School was converted into an “attack on Christians”. We have seen how Barkha takes no time to lump any abrasive behaviour with “Right Wing” or “Hindutva Extremists”, but this time she was quite restrained.

The same Barkha, who discusses patriarchy during Karwa-Chauth, couldn’t smell patriarchy or misogyny in those Facebook replies to Shami’s picture. Take a look at her earlier reactions:

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barkha dutt @BDUTT
RW trolls & their silly little hash tags prove what I said in this talk. These lynch mobs have subverted very idea of India's Nationalism https://twitter.com/ProfVarshney/status/787103901019439104 …
7:40 PM - 16 Oct 2016

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barkha dutt @BDUTT
Modi's Sufiana Kalam: A celebration of diversity, a call to to love all God's creatures. Fine speech. Hope RW Twitter troopers listening.
8:25 PM - 17 Mar 2016

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barkha dutt @BDUTT
RW trolls & their silly little hash tags prove what I said in this talk. These lynch mobs have subverted very idea of India's Nationalism https://twitter.com/ProfVarshney/status/787103901019439104 …
7:40 PM - 16 Oct 2016

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barkha dutt @BDUTT
Right wing extremists in India who abuse Pakistan day in &out now happy to quote a distorted report as it suits their prejudices!irony!
10:29 AM - 29 Sep 2013

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barkha dutt @BDUTT
For the record, its not only Internet Hindus. Extremists of all faiths and all parties have issued diktats against books & authors. Shame
3:29 PM - 11 Feb 2014

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This double standard and hypocrisy is the reason why many people across the globe have started disliking the term “liberal”, even though this should have been an aspiration. Selective shielding and selective shaming not only abet crime, but it also creates discontent.

In the middle of all this, Twitter user Raju Das poked Barkha in NDTV style. An agitated Barkha couldn’t tolerate the spin; the same spin which NDTV tries with others:

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Raju Das | ৰাজু দাস @rajudasonline
BREAKING: Controversial journalist Barkha Dutt doubts if Cricketer @MohammadKaif posted a real screenshot or fake. https://twitter.com/BDUTT/status/813065159136673792 … pic.twitter.com/b1jiPwDzfw

barkha dutt @BDUTT
@rajudasonline dont talk rubbish @MohammadKaif -kaif ignore this man and his inane distortions.
10:41 PM - 25 Dec 2016

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Amidst all these interactions, the reply of Kaif to Barkha came as a googly. The question here is did Kaif write this ‘awareness and acceptance’ thing for Barkha or did he write it for those who abused Shami? It actually fits both the cases:

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Mohammad Kaif @MohammadKaif
Ji @BDUTT .
Jhagda Jhagdi mat karo.
Sabko sweekaar karo. The first step towards change is awareness,second is acceptance. https://twitter.com/BDUTT/status/813069587633815552 …
10:45 PM - 25 Dec 2016

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But Barkha Dutt wasn’t done yet. A random social media account tweeted a news story about a diktat issued by Hindu group Bajrang Dal, coming up with a dress code for women. The account tried to draw an equivalence between Shami’s case and this story. Barkha Dutt wasted no time in sharing this tweet and asked all those who stood up against the bigotry shown towards Shami, to take up this issue too:

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barkha dutt @BDUTT
Agree and hope all those who stood up against the muck Shami endured will stand up against this as well. https://twitter.com/ikaveri/status/813434413639864320 …
12:58 AM - 27 Dec 2016

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But there was a hitch. For people to take up this issue, they would have travel back in time to May 2010, because the Bajrang Dal story was from 2010!!

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OTHER STATES
Bajrang Dal comes up with dress code for girls
MAY 27, 2010 00:00 IST
UPDATED; September 22, 2010 16:09 IST

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