Right-Wing Trolls Target Him with Sectarian and Offensive Comments
New Delhi: The wave of Islamophobia in India is not confined to ordinary citizens; even sports stars who bring pride to the nation are subjected to communal attacks. The latest target is Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who faced an onslaught of hateful comments after sharing a picture from his Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Siraj posted a photo on his social media, clad in the Ihram (white pilgrimage attire) in front of the Kaaba. However, his post was soon flooded with abusive and sectarian remarks from right-wing extremists. Some derogatorily labeled him a “Kat Mullah”, while others called him a “converted Muslim.” Several users spammed his post with religious slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” and other inflammatory comments. One user, identified as Sai Teja, wrote “Jai Shri Ram Mile”, while another remarked, “Jai Shri Mahakal, he is worshipping Mahakal now.”
This is not the first time Mohammed Siraj has faced communal trolling. Last year, he showed solidarity with Palestinians by posting “All Eyes on Rafah”, which led to mass trolling. Under pressure, he had to delete the post after being accused of being a “Hamas sympathizer” and a “terrorist.” Similarly, after India’s ICC World Cup victory, Siraj shared a celebratory post thanking Allah, which again triggered right-wing trolls.
Apart from Siraj, Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami has also been a frequent target of online hate. He has been labeled a “Khalistani” and a “Pakistani agent” by communal elements.
This pattern of targeting Muslim athletes highlights the increasing intolerance, online radicalization, and communal polarization in India, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression and religious harmony in the country.
