Nahid Afrin, a 16-year-old singer from Assam, has drawn the ire of 46 clerics, who have issued a fatwa against the ‘Indian Idol’ runner-up for singing in public.
The fatwa, which was distributed in Hojai and Nagaon districts of central Assam, said that Afrin is scheduled to perform on 25 March in Udali Sonai Bibi College, which is in the vicinity of a mosque and a graveyard.
The fatwa reads: “If anti-Sharia acts like musical nights are held on grounds surrounded by masjids, idgahs, madrassas and graveyards, our future generations will attract the wrath of Allah”.
Reacting to the fatwa, Afrin said that she was “shocked and broken”, but added that many Muslim singers have inspired her “to not quit music” and that she had no plans to do so.
According to a Times of India report, the police will provide Nahid and her family with security.
The move comes days after 22-year-old Suhana Syed was trolled for crooning a Hindu devotional song on a reality TV show.
Support poured in from Assam Chief Minister Sabananda Sonowal who condemned the restrictions issued by the clerics. Even Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen lauded Afrin’s stand to “never bow down”.
We strongly condemn putting restrictions on performance by young talented singer Nahid Afrin by some organisations.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) March 14, 2017
After getting fatwa from 46 mullahs in Assam,16 yrs old Nahid Afrin said she'll never bow down and will never leave singing. Bravo girl!
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) March 15, 2017
After Suhana Syed from Karnataka last week,another young lady bullied/Shamed for singing.Shameful.But tough young women -standing up to them https://t.co/y55X42d2c3
— Advaita Kala (@AdvaitaKala) March 15, 2017
Anyone who tells a musician not to make music, doesn't understand anything about spirituality. Shame on the people threatening #NahidAfrin .
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) March 15, 2017
Here are some of Afrin’s earlier performances: