Richa Bharti, who was arrested on the complaint filed by the Anjuman Islamia Committee for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community through her Facebook post on Tabrez Ansari’s death, has declined to follow the court order. Yesterday, Ranchi Court had ordered conditional bail to Ms Bharti, asking her to distribute 5 copies of Quran, including 1 to be submitted to the Anjuman Islamia Committee today.
Responding to the video uploaded by popular TikTok personalities wherein they were seen propagating hatred by arguing that if Tabrez Ansari’s son takes his revenge tomorrow, Muslims shouldn’t be called terrorists, Bharti uploaded a Facebook post asking why only Muslims think of embracing terrorism and why aggrieved Kashmiri Pandits and people from other communities who have suffered a lot do not become terrorists. This didn’t sit well with the Anjuman Islamia Committee and they filed a complaint of hurting religious sentiments against Bharti.
However, Bharti has now refused to follow the court order saying that the order shows the duplicity of the court. Defending her Freedom of Expression, Bharti has questioned the courts that if any Muslim accused of sharing objectionable content online has ever been asked to perform a Ramayan or Durga paath like she has been asked to distribute the Quran copies. She also stated that if she agrees to comply with the court order now, tomorrow they will be encouraged and we might be asked to embrace Islam.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgpWHc25xoY]
“I posted things on Facebook which felt correct to me. My post was regarding Tiktok user Faizu’s post that in future Tabrez Ansari’s son might avenge his father’s death and Muslims will be called terrorists. My post was why only Muslims harbour the feeling of revenge? Why Kashmiri Pandits don’t, who were forced out of their land, their population from once 25% reduced to less than 2%. I don’t want to follow the court order. Today they have asked to distribute the Quran, tomorrow they will ask to embrace Islam, read namaz. Muslims who post objectionable post on social media get a free pass as they are never asked by the courts to do a Ramayana or Durga paath or to read Hanuman Chalisa, ” Bharti said in an interview.
