Indian Muslim stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui denied bail a month after arrest
Indian Muslim stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui has been denied bail after being arrested on alleged charges of “insulting” Hindu gods.
As being reported, Munawar Faruqui,29, and five others were arrested on January 2 following a complaint by Eklvaya Singh Gaur, BJP MLA”s son that objectionable remarks about Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were passed during a comedy show at a cafe in Indore on New Year”s day. One more person was arrested subsequently.
Reportedly, Faruqui and Nalin Yadav are in judicial remand and lodged in Indore Central Jail. A magistrate”s court and a sessions court rejected their bail pleas, following which they moved the high court.
“The evidence/material collected so far, suggest that in an organized public show under the garb of standup comedy at a public place on commercial lines, prima facie; scurrilous, disparaging utterances, outraging religious feelings of a class of citizens of India with deliberate intendment, were made by the applicant,” said the court order.
The High Court noted allegations in the complaint that Mr. Faruqui and the other comics were “allegedly making outraging filthy jokes in social media deliberately against Hindu Gods, Lord Shriram, and Goddess Seeta hurting religious sentiments of Hindus for the last 18 months despite protest on various social media platforms”. There was “nothing on record to the contrary”, the judge said.
A few names of the Indian entertainment industry including, and others have expressed disappointment over the Madhya Pradesh High Court”s decision that turned down the bail plea of comedian Munawar Faruqui.
I’m sorry Munawwar.. this country and its institutions and your fellow citizens have let you down. I’m sorry and I’m ashamed. #munawarfaruqi
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 25, 2021
This is nothing but vindictive prosecution of an artist from the minority immunity for something HE DID NIT SAY !! #MunawarFaruqi I am sorry abs I am ashamed of what’s happening to you . https://t.co/ClyCyMFK49
— iamOnir (@IamOnir) January 28, 2021
In light of what is up with comedians in India, I thought this Idi Amin quote appropriate. pic.twitter.com/FQcs9vd0BJ
— Anuvab Pal (@AnuvabPal) January 28, 2021
And what blatant injustice with Prakhar Vyas, Nalin Yadav, Pratik Vyas and Edwin Anthony who have been arrested with #MunawarFaruqi https://t.co/2d4cGGr5Bo
— Sayema (@_sayema) January 25, 2021
#MadhyaPradesh High Court junks bail plea of comedian #MunawarFaruqi, underlining mutual respect is a basic tenet of coexistence. State must ensure ecosystem & coexistence aren't polluted by negative forces, it adds.
— Utkarsh Anand (@utkarsh_aanand) January 28, 2021
Just when you thought the courts couldn't get crappier, setting new standards every day! #Indiancourts #MunawarFaruqi https://t.co/f58ztlxBsB
— Varna|ورنہ|বর্ণ|வர்ணா (@Varna) January 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/EbadR101/status/1354667060966559745
A journalist leaking matters of national security roams freely and a comic who cracks jokes is behind bars. Welcome to new India!
— Nikhil Rathod (@niksmania) January 28, 2021
#FreeMunawar #MunawarFaruqi
