No, Muslims in Junagadh were not protesting peacefully
In the wake of an incident involving stone pelting and arson in Junagadh, Gujarat, on June 16, 2023, social media has been abuzz with claims that Muslim youths were protesting against the demolition of a dargah and mosque, and subsequently beaten up in public by the police. On June 17, 2023, Ashok Swain, known for sharing fake news and Hinduphobic content, posted a video that portrays a scene where police personnel are seen punishing individuals allegedly involved in the arson that took place on June 16, 2023. However, he compared the actions of the Gujarat police to the Taliban, stating that the police were publicly flogging a group of Muslims for protesting against the mosque demolition.
Another Twitter handle name Aasif Mujtaba shared the viral video and alleges that Muslims in Gujarat are being subjected to flogging because they protested against arbitrary and communal demolitions of shrines and mosques. He further highlights instances where structures are being demolished even before a final court order is issued, suggesting a lack of due process. According to Mujtaba, Muslim protesters take to the streets as a last resort, when they feel let down by the executive, legislature, and judiciary. He further wrote, the act of flogging, as depicted in the video, raises serious concerns about human rights violations and indicates a communal mindset within the state machinery.
Furthermore, the viral video capturing the incident in Gujarat has garnered the attention of various media outlets, including the Hinduphobic publication, Al Jazeera. In their post, Al Jazeera shares the video and adds their own commentary to the narrative. According to their description, the video portrays Muslims being publicly flogged in Gujarat, India, as a result of violent protests that erupted against a demolition order targeting a Muslim shrine.
The tweets mentioned above collectively aim to convey a consistent message: that the Muslim community in Junagadh, Gujarat, was left with no choice but to engage in protests as a means to protect their dargah. These accounts are trying to portray that muslims involved in the protest were innocent and that it is the police which caused the real chaos. According to them, the peaceful protests were met with a disproportionate response from the police, resulting in the flogging of Muslims in Junagadh.
So, is it true that the Muslims were protesting peacefully and that they were flogged by the police for no reason? let’s Fact Check.
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During our investigation, we conducted keyword research on Twitter, focusing on terms like “Junagadh, Junagadh police, etc.” In the process, we stumbled upon a video posted by ANI on its Twitter handle on June 17, 2023, which provides crucial insight into the situation. The video captures a scene where an angry mob is engaged in acts of arson and pelting stones at the police. Accompanying the video, ANI’s caption states, “Stones pelted, cops injured after a mob protest against the anti-encroachment drive in Gujarat’s Junagadh last night.”
In addition to the aforementioned video capturing the unrest in Junagadh, ANI also shared another video featuring SP Ravi Teja Vasamsetty, who provides crucial insights into the entire incident. According to SP Ravi Teja’s account, the Junagadh Municipal Corporation had issued a notice to a mosque near Majewadi Gate, demanding the submission of relevant documents within a five-day period. Consequently, a significant gathering of around 500-600 people had assembled at the site on June 16, 2023. The police, in an attempt to maintain order, were engaged in persuading the crowd not to obstruct the road.
However, at approximately 10:15 pm, the situation took a violent turn as stones began to be hurled, leading to an attack on the police. In response, the police resorted to lathicharge, using batons to disperse the crowd. Unfortunately, police personnel sustained injuries during the incident. Currently, 174 individuals have been apprehended for their involvement. Tragically, there has been a reported fatality, seemingly caused by the stone pelting. However, further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the civilian’s demise awaits the results of the postmortem examination.
After this, we stumbled upon another significant video posted on the Twitter handle named HinduHate on June 18, 2023. This video features the Town Planning Officer of Junagadh, who makes startling revelations regarding the incident. The Town Planning Officer discloses that on June 14, the Junagadh Municipal Corporation had issued notices to a total of eight religious sites situated along public roads within the municipal area. Strikingly, out of these eight locations, three are Hindu temples, while the remaining five are dargahs. It is one of these dargahs, specifically the one near Majewadi Gate, that has become a focal point of controversy.
According to the Town Planning Officer of Junagadh, the municipal administration had issued notices to all religious sites, irrespective of their affiliation, requesting evidence of authorized ownership and construction. These notices were aimed at ensuring compliance with regulations and validating the legality of the structures. Importantly, at the time the notices were served, there had been no decision made regarding demolition, nor was it even under consideration, he said.
Continuing our investigation, we conducted a keyword search using the phrase “Violence in Junagadh,” which led us to a report published by Divya Bhaskar on June 18, 2023. The report features a statement by Rajesh U. Tanna, the Municipal Commissioner of Junagadh. According to Commissioner Tanna, the municipal administration had served notices strictly in compliance with a Supreme Court order. The purpose of these notices was solely to request documentation pertaining to the ownership of the premises. The Commissioner emphasizes that there is no mention whatsoever of demolishing any religious site in the notices or related documents.
Furthermore, the report from Divya Bhaskar also reveals that Hindu shrines, along with the Muslim dargahs, were also included in the notices served by the Junagadh municipal administration. These notices requested documentation related to the ownership of the premises from both Hindu and Muslim religious sites. This detail, often overlooked in the discussions, emphasizes that the administrative action was not targeted towards a specific religious community but aimed at ensuring compliance with regulations for all religious structures in Junagadh. Moreover, the inclusion of Hindu shrines in the notices showcases the impartiality of the municipal administration’s approach.
So, all these points prove that the Muslim dargahs were not singled out for targeting, as Hindu shrines were also included in the notices issued by the Junagadh municipal administration. Moreover, it is essential to acknowledge that the protests were not entirely peaceful, as evidenced by the stone-pelting and acts of arson that resulted in serious injuries to numerous police personnel. Tragically, one individual lost their life amidst the unrest. In response to this violence, the police took necessary and appropriate action to restore order and protect public safety. However, certain individuals and news outlets like Ashok Swain, Aasif Mujtaba, and Al Jazeera, with their own agendas chose to selectively report and manipulate the facts, contributing to the ongoing controversy and misleading the public.
| Claim | Muslims were protesting peacefully and that they were flogged by the police for no reason |
| Claimed by | Ashok Swain, Aasif Mujtaba, Al Jazeera, etc |
| Fact Check | False and Misleading |
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