Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 8: A Muslim girl from Sagar, Shivamogga has been the victim of a troll attack on social media for choosing to sing a Hindu devotional song in a singing reality show on a Kannada entertainment channel.

The 22-year-old girl, Suhana Syed, received flak from a Facebook page called 'Mangalore Muslims' for singing the devotional song, and for saying on the show that she hoped hidden talents in her community would take inspiration from her and come forward.

Dressed in burkha and hijab, Suhana's rendition of the devotional song received much applause from the studio audience and the judges, one of whom lauded her for fostering Hindu-Muslim unity through the song.

But her performance did not go down well with a section of the online community. The Facebook post, which has since been deleted, said, "Suhana you have tarnished the Muslim community by singing in front of men. Do not feel that you have achieved a great feat; people who learn to recite Quran in 6 months have achieved more. Your parents have encouraged you to show your beauty to other men, they will not go to heaven because of you. Please give up the pardah that you are wearing as you don't respect it." The page also slammed her for 'insulting' Islam through her words and cautioned that she would have to face God's wrath.

Meanwhile, several persons have come out in support of Suhana. Food and civil supplies minister U T Khader warned that anyone threatening Suhana would be dealt with stringently. "We will take strong action against anyone who threatens Suhana. Action is already being taken under the cyber crime law against the person who posted against her on Facebook. Only 1 percent is against her, the rest 99 percent are with Suhana," Khader said.

Mysuru MP Pratap Simha too came out in support of her, and taking a jibe at intellectuals, he questioned why they were silent when intolerance was being shown at Suhana from members of her own community. He also assured that she would be given protection to ensure that she is able to continue singing.

The Facebook page Mangalore Muslims, responding to Khader's statement, has denied that anyone on its page had threatened Suhana. "We did not threaten Suhana. We opposed her for saying false things about Islam and Muslim women. We have every right to do so, and it is our duty too," the page stated.