On Sunday, after a bakery owner in Chennai was arrested over an Islamophobic advertisement, in which he had written, "Made by Jains on orders, No Muslim staff", subsequently "Boycott-Halal-Products" began to trend on Twitter.
Speaking on the trend, Milli Gazette, an Indian Muslim's English newspaper, posted a thread on Twitter. However, the newspaper got panned on the microblogging website for asking why are right-wing Hindus bothered about meat products.
In a thread, Milli Gazette wrote, "Boycott-Halal-Products is trending right now. This is a sugar coated way of persecuting Indian Muslims and exhibiting bigotry #Islamophobia. Fake claims like Halal Certificate means no non-Muslim works in that company. That Halal certificate is discriminatory!"
"All most 99% companies seeking halal certificate must be getting it without changing anything in their process. A halal certificate on a non-meat product should not bother anyone one bit. And for meat products, why are Right wing Hindus even bothered?" the newspaper added.
Milli Gazette further wrote, "Bigots claim: "We will not follow Sharia Rules. Why impose Halal on Non-muslims". Imposing? Is anyone forcing ppl to buy halal "garam masala"? Moreover, where is there a sharia rule to make "garam masala"? It is just that no ingredient in it, is something forbidden in Islam."
"Bigots claim: Halal Certified product means kind of tax, are we living in Muslim country & paying Jizya? A tax? Certification is a one time fee, may be renewed at some intervals. But certainly not a "tax". But here bigots want to parrot the word "jizya" and spread hate," the newspaper further added,
Many on Twitter slammed the newspaper. A Twitter user said: "What is the meaning of Halal certification and why it is required? It is 100% discriminatory and must be stopped!"
Here are some of the Twitter reactions:
