Amid the growing targeted attacks on Muslims, throughout the country, Youtube is facing a massive backlash in India after it featured a Muslim in one of its promoted videos.
On March 10, 2022, Youtube India posted a video of a Muslim named Khwaja Moinuddin who had started a community kitchen in Hyderabad where they feed underprivileged children calling it an Inspiring story.
“When Khwaja Moinuddin started @NawabKitchen, he couldn’t have imagined the love and support he’ll receive on YouTube. Today, he serves delicious meals to underprivileged children♥️. We bring forward his inspiring story to you with,” Youtube captioned the 3:54 second video.
When Khwaja Moinuddin started @NawabKitchen, he couldn’t have imagined the love and support he’ll receive on YouTube. Today, he serves delicious meals to underprivileged children♥️. We bring forward his inspiring story to you with #CreatingForIndia https://t.co/44L1A5KNty pic.twitter.com/8zuCCYdV3s
— YouTube India (@YouTubeIndia) March 10, 2022
However, immediately after the video was posted, right wing trolls jumped onto the YouTube’s twitter handle and spammed it with Anti-muslim hatred.
From “Jihad” to calls for “block”, the trolls went to the extreme of even calling for a boycott of Youtube in India. A User named Alpha Hindu referring to the Anti-Muslim hatred promoted by mainstream media during the Covid 19’s first wave holding Muslims responsible for the spread of the pandemic said, “hope he has not spitted in the food.” Pertinently sections of Indian media had reported that some Muslims vendors selling fruits on stalls were “arrested” for spitting on fruits to spread Covid 19.
Jayesh Rathod said, “Why this Youtube promote in twitter…so many kitchens are made by Hindus in temple.. Woh ki promote nahi kar raha hai (nobody is promoting that).” Veenu gaur was among hundreds of other users who made an Anti-muslim comment and said Youtube was “Biased”.
Pertinently, this is not the first time that an advertisement has come under massive targeted in India for being “pro Muslim”. Earlier several advertisers have been forced to take down their advertisement considering the massive market size and the cheap labour in India.
In 2020, Jewellery brand, Tanishq was at the centre of the controversy after it was accused of Love Jihad. Following outrage on social media, Tanishq took down its advertisement.
Red Label Tea advertisement showed a husband unwilling to accept an invitation for tea at the house of their Muslim neighbour. As the Hindu couple struggled to open the doors of their home, they eventually decided to take up the invitation. Soon, differences appeared to melt over a cup of Red Label Tea. The advertisement received a major backlash.
Surf Excel advertisement was also trolled massively and accused of being pro-muslim. The advertisement showed a young Hindu girl helping a Muslim boy to get to the mosque on her cycle on Eid saving her from the colours of Holi.