Former JNU student and activist Afreen Fatima, whose house was demolished by the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday, says that she would not shed a single tear even after what happened, “We are not going to give that to them”, she said in an interview to Maktoob Media.
On Sunday, the Prayagraj Development Authority demolished the house of Welfare Party of India leader Javed Mohammed and his daughter Afreen Fatima alleging “illegal construction”. The authorities also allege that Javed was one of the “key conspirators” of the violence that erupted in the city over the blasphemous remarks made against the Prophet Muhammad by a BJP leader, which has infuriated Muslims across the world.
Speaking to Maktoob Media about her home, Afreen said, “My younger sister was born in that house. Our house is as old as my sister. It was like our space. We could be ourselves and be free. We had a lot of fun with each other and we also fought a lot with each other,” she reminisced.
“My mother was very fond of plants. When they were demolishing our house we saw the plants and the pots, crumbling down. I think we had more than 500 pots in the house and it would have been difficult for them too. I also imagine that the plants will be cursing them. So that also gives me relief,” she added.
Afreen’s family has maintained that they did not receive any prior notice of the alleged “illegality” of the house. The house, they said belonged to Parveen Fatima, Javed’s wife. A group of lawyers have filed a plea in Allahabad High Court regarding the same.
The authorities, however, have claimed that they gave a show cause to Javed on May 10 for a hearing, asking him to appear before May 24, which they allege he did not comply with.
Further, Afreen claimed that even if Muslims do not do anything and if there were no protests, they would still be incriminated.
“You know, Muslims don’t even have to do anything. Even if there was no protest in Allahabad, I’m quite sure my father would have been incriminated, given the fact that he is someone who was acknowledging the rising intolerance in Allahabad city. I mean, there was Dharam Sansad where genocidal calls were given,” she said.
“This punishment or this idea of deriving pleasure by punishing Muslims is very prevalent right now. The Hindu supremacists derive it,” the former JNU student said adding that it’s a fetish to see “Muslim house crumbling,” to see “Muslims going to jail,” to see “Muslims being demonized and dehumanized on national television day in and day out. That’s their idea of fun.”
Refusing to surrender, which Afreen claimed gave pleasure to the supremacists, she said, “We’re not willing to give that to them. So we’re not willing to shed a single tear. And as for the entire Muslim community, I think the community is strong and will survive whatever will come.”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday heard a plea filed Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, seeking directions to be given to the Yogi Adityanath-led state government to ensure that no more demolition drives take place in the state without following the proper procedure. The apex court, however, said that it was not asking all actions to stop. “However, all such actions must be within the ambit of the law,” it said.
Related
Rabia Shireen is a Staff Reporter at The Cognate.
