The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has urged Islamic scholars and intellectuals not to participate in debates on Indian television channels because their sole purpose is to ridicule and defame Islam and its adherents rather than reach a conclusion through constructive discourse. For years, debates on the majority of Indian TV channels have been flagged for Islamophobia. Many Muslim activists have recently launched a social media campaign urging a boycott of TV debates that fuel anti-Muslim sentiments. #StopGoingToGodiMediaDebates was trending on Twitter last week.

According to a joint statement issued by the Muslim body's President, Vice-Presidents, and General Secretary, participating in such programmes does not serve Islam or Muslims and instead serves as a direct insult to Islam and Muslims. Maulana Syed Mohammad Rabey Hasani Nadwi and vice presidents Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, Maulana Kaka Sayeed Ahmed Oomeri, Maulana Syed Shah Fakhruddin Ashraf, Maulana Syed Arshad Madani, and Syed Ali Mohammad Naqvi issued a joint statement, according to Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani.

"The intention of these programmes is not to reach any conclusion through constructive discourse but to ridicule and defame Islam and Muslims." To gather some legitimacy, these TV channels need Muslim faces in their debates. "Due to their obliviousness, our Islamic scholars (Ulema) and intellectuals become victims of such agendas," reads the statement. AIMPLB’s request comes in the wake of inflammatory remarks by two BJP functionaries on Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). "If we boycott such programmes and channels, not only will it affect their TRP negatively, but they will also fail in achieving their desired outcome through these debates," it adds.

Credit:
Independent News Pakistan-INP