‘Shami getting abused by Hindu Indians’ was a social media propaganda peddled by Pakistani handles? How it occurred

The India-Pakistan cricket match within the T20 World Cup was mired with controversies even earlier than it started. After a dismal efficiency by the Indian workforce led to a ten wicket loss, social media was awash with claims that Indian bowler Mohammad Shami is being blamed for the loss, ‘because he is a Muslim’.
Multiple experiences, op-eds and social media posts poured in help of cricketer Mohammed Shami and shamed those that attacked him.
There was a lot hype for 2 days that a number of gamers, together with Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Lakshman, Virendra Sehwag and others, got here ahead in help of Shami. Unknown to the origin of the assault, the posts by these celebrated gamers gave a push to the propaganda to push the narrative that there’s intolerance in India.
Tweets by celebrated gamers in help of Shami. Source: Twitter
Just on the time when anti-India parts had been being known as out on social media for celebrating Pakistan’s win, there have been a number of tweets going round that Md Shami is being abused by some Indians. However, it’s nonetheless a thriller for a lot of as not many anti-Shami tweets or social media posts had been seen. Meaning, there have been just a few handles, principally anon trolls, that had been indulged within the hateful feedback towards Shami.
Many social media customers even identified that they haven’t seen a single submit abusing Shami however have seen lots of of posts condemning the abuse.
Image through Twitter Reports and OpIndia’s personal investigation revealed surprising particulars of how the assault was designed and executed from the neighbouring nation Pakistan. Republic News had pointed {that a} Twitter consumer Alitaza45896998 posted 28 abusive feedback towards Shami on Twitter.
Pakistani account that focused Shami. Source: Republic TV
The now-deleted account was following 15 Pakistani accounts.
Alitaza account now not exists. Source: Twitter
Several accounts had been created on Instagram and Twitter for the only real objective of attacking Shami. Once the propaganda was pushed to the purpose help messages began to pour in, these accounts disappeared from social media platforms. Journalists, activists, intellectuals and many others., noticed a possibility in it and pushed their very own agendas claiming that Indian ‘Hindu nationalists’ are abusing Shami, a Muslim participant, and blaming him for India’s loss.
Bureau Chief, NDTV, Saurabh Gupta, mentioned, “Communal behaviour is when one player is subjected to the worst form of abuses because the team lost. Mohammed Shami is a performing cricketer and is as responsible as any other member of the team for the loss. But the worst abuses are directed at him because of his religion.”
Tweet by Saurabh Gupta. Source: Twitter
CEDA Ashoka editor Ankur Bharadwaj mentioned, “Perhaps American Football players will take the knee in solidarity with Shami.”
Tweet by Ankur Bhardwaj. Source: Twitter
Writer Harneet Singh tagged cricketer Virat Kohli and mentioned, “Come on, Virat Kohli. Stand by your teammate Mohd Shami. Please make a statement of support for him & put an end to this bigotry for good. You are our Captain. Time to be a Leader now.”
Tweet by Harneet Singh. Source: Twitter
Journalist Purva Chitnis mentioned, “The ugly communal head of hyper-nationalist cricket fans came out in the vilest manner as expected. Virat Kohli and the team should publicly speak up and stand firm behind #Shami. Will they or won’t they is the question…”
Tweet by Purva Chitnis. Source: Twitter
Alleged journalist Rana Ayyub mentioned, “The Islamophobic hate against #shami with aspersions on his patriotism and his commitment to the country. If this and the state enabled hatred against Indian minorities is not worth taking a knee, I don’t know what is.”
Tweet by Rana Ayyub. Source: Twitter
Ayyub noticed it as an opportunity to throw an op-ed wherein she wrote, “Messages to and about Shami on social media were Indian bigotry at its worst: He was hounded, humiliated, and asked if he had sold his soul to Pakistan. Some asked if he deliberately gave runs to the Pakistani team; others accused him of being a traitor and an anti-national. The invective flooded his social media.”
The Print’s Nikhil Rampal mentioned, “Neeraj Chopra had made a 2-minute video keeping the side of Pakistan’s player, also gave the message of brotherhood in sports. Shami is still ours. What is being proved with that kneeling hypocrisy?”
Tweet by Nikhil Rampal. Source: Twitter
Mojo’s Barkha Dutt wrote, “Is the Indian cricket team going to take a gratuitous knee for Black Lives Matter, entirely disconnected from the Indian reality, but stay silent on the bigoted online attacks against Mohd Shami? We expect better.”
Tweet by Barkha Dutt. Source: Twitter
She additionally rapidly wrote an op-ed for WaPo wherein she mentioned, “Toxic, brazenly Islamophobic comments were left on his (Shami’s) Instagram page, suggesting that he was a traitor, one who could take the next flight out to Pakistan. Shami was singled out in a different way than other players, and the language used for him was directly related to his being Muslim. In fact, he is the only Muslim on the team’s playing lineup for this tournament — a fact that would have been irrelevant had the hate directed at him online not underscored his religion.”
Comments abusing Shami had been a part of a coordinated plan?
A Twitter User Counter-Propaganda Division did detailed analysis on how Pakistan’s propaganda towards India was pushed by coordinated social media posts abusing Shami. It mentioned the entire “Shami is getting abused” propaganda began across the time when a Twitter consumer ‘vaikivannavan’ printed screenshots of individuals allegedly abusing Shami. The account now not exists.
Classic Bollywood Story : Muslim participant blamed for loss, requested to show loyalty to nation!Media: Got the spiceOpposition: Got the IssueTeam India: Emotionally BruisedINDIA: Failed to discern the psy conflict once more.It all started when a Twitter deal with @vaikivannavanPosted this 👇 pic.twitter.com/yHSyJ410oy— Counter Propaganda Division (@CounterDivision) October 26, 2021
The group additional identified who and the way the thread on ‘Shami getting shamed’ was promoted on social media together with a thread by Aj Jazeera’s host Sana Saeed.
Scene 2: USEFUL IDIOTS!Now enter the “useful idiots” who helped in turning the seemingly irrelevant bot posts right into a nationwide sentiment.. (please word that all of them are utilizing the identical screenshots)Note: Al Jazeera Producer @SanaSaeed doing a thread on it. pic.twitter.com/7GAGlqPcAN— Counter Propaganda Division (@CounterDivision) October 26, 2021
Aljazeera’s Sana Saeed did a thread quoting the tweet. She mentioned, “Mohammad Shami is an Indian cricketer; a bowler. These are comments on his IG right now, with people claiming he took money from Pakistan that he was playing for Pakistan and helped India lose because he is a Muslim.”
Tweet thread by Aj Jazeera host. Source: Twitter.
It’s fascinating how one single tweet was promoted extensively by Pakistani Twitter customers.
Scene 5: The Vultures EnterThe Social media cells of Pakistan had been ready for this replace.The basic amplification was achieved from right here on…ONE Tweet…Yes! JUST ONE TWEET and a bunch of “useful idiots” gave them the required canon fodder. pic.twitter.com/mX3C4JezNk— Counter Propaganda Division (@CounterDivision) October 26, 2021
Media additionally performed a job in spreading the propaganda. Media homes together with Scroll, Dawn, Telegraph and a number of other different printed experiences on how Shami was shamed.
Finally, 8 Abusive Insta Posts from unknown (more than likely) bot handles made it to International News of on-line harassment hurled at a Muslim cricketer in India..Not a single outlet has taken pains to provide some other proof of the abuses pic.twitter.com/mqzQpb0cY8— Counter Propaganda Division (@CounterDivision) October 26, 2021
The actuality is, Shami is without doubt one of the most cherished Indian cricketers and his followers will preserve loving him for his efficiency. Moreover, the Indian workforce misplaced to Pakistan by a large 10-wickets. Most Indians, who’re cricket followers by default, know properly that it was a multi-level failure by the workforce and blaming one bowler for it’s non-sensical.
Moreover, on a number of events, cricketer Mohammad Shami has been on the receiving finish of hateful, hurtful feedback for sharing pictures of his household. Islamists on social media had shamed Shami for ‘not making his wife wear hijab’ and permitting his daughter to put on ‘Hindu’ clothes’. The concern and outrage that the ‘liberals’ are displaying for Shami now had been unusually absent on these events. No worldwide op-eds had been written about it both.