Assad was close to Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, both Shia allies. This further cemented the perception that Alawites were aligned with Shiite interests in a Sunni-majority country.
After Rajiv Gandhi govt banned the import of The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie written an open letter to the PM condemning the order calling it violation of free society principles
Tensions erupted in Hyderabad Rein Bazaar as a Islamists mob protested over blasphemy allegations against a youth, leading to unrest and frustration over police inaction.
Additional Commissioner of Police Dnyaneshwar Chavan said that the Ganpati immersion procession was passing peacefully when it came under attack near the Hindustani Mosque.
Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan received a barrage of abuses from Islamists on Instagram after she extended greetings on the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.