The NIT Srinagar protest has started to draw global attention. Muslim community students have been staging protests to arrest and take strict action against a Marathi student studying at NIT Srinagar for sharing an Instagram reel that was termed 'blasphemous' by them. The controversy erupted on Tuesday when the 'non-local' student shared a reel of Hamas Co-Founder's son Mosab Hassan Yousef's reel amid the Israel-Gaza war. This reportedly irked Muslim students who in large numbers started to protest against the students chanting religious slogans in the valley.
While the non-local student was sent back to his home by the college administration, tensions rose in the Valley. Sensing the NIT Srinagar Protest may take a communal turn due to a few anti-social elements, heavy security cover deployed in the college, and academic activities were suspended to curb further protests. Amid the protest, the authorities charged the non-local student for hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community. At first, the Instagram reel that was shared by the non-local student was not revealed, but later netizens on X alleged that the student had shared the viral video of Hamas Co-Founder's son who was talking about Islam and Intolerance.
With the situation remaining tense in NIT Srinagar, Hamas Co-Founder's son Mosab Hassan Yousef took to his official X handle on Friday and came out in support of the non-local student. Mosab Hassan Yousef wrote, "Islamists in Kashmir are threatening to kill a Hindu student who shared one of my statements on social media.
Have they forgotten that they are a minority in an ocean of Hindus? Come after me and leave the student alone. I am fed up with the Muslim intimidation against freedom of speech. Let the Muslims of Kashmir know...One innocent student for the entire population of Kashmir."
It is pertinent to mention here that Mosab's remarks came after chants like 'Sar Tan Se Juda' echoed in the Valley during the Srinagar Protest. Sensing there might be a threat to his life in Kashmir, the student was sent back to his home. An FIR was registered against the student at the Nigeen Police Station under sections 295A (outraging religious feelings), 153A (promoting enmity), and 153 (provocation) of the Indian Penal Code.
For the unversed, Mosab Hassan Yousef is the son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef. Mosab, 45, had worked undercover as a spy for Israel between 1997 and 2007.