Kerala group visits homes of victims killed by Hindutva mob on Day against Islamophobia

On March 15, observed as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, members of the Solidarity Youth Movement reportedly visited the homes of several individuals in Kerala who were affected by alleged Islamophobic violence and injustice.

The visits were described as an act of solidarity, during which the group met families of those who had been killed, persecuted, or imprisoned in cases linked to anti-Muslim hatred or what were claimed to be false accusations.

According to the organisation’s leaders, the delegation met relatives of Kodinji Faisal and Yasir Tirur, both of whom were said to have been killed after converting to Islam. They also visited families of Ashraf Pulpally, Parappanangadi Zakariya, and Yahya Kammukutti, among others. The leaders explained that the purpose of the outreach was to express support for affected families and to draw attention to what they described as the lasting impact of Islamophobia, Maktoob Media reported.

During their visit to Faisal’s home, the group is said to have interacted with his parents, wife, and children. Faisal, formerly known as Anil Kumar alias Unni, who had converted to Islam while working abroad, was reportedly killed in 2016 after returning to his hometown. Police had earlier arrested multiple individuals in connection with the case.

Faisal, who was not associated with any political party, was reportedly targeted and killed on November 19, 2016, in Farook Nagar, Kodinhi.

By February 2017, police had arrested 16 men linked to Hindutva groups in connection with the murder. Those taken into custody reportedly included Faisal’s youngest brother-in-law and cousin Vinod, his neighbour and relative Sajeesh, RSS Tirur Taluk Karyavahak Madathil Narayanan, RSS Sharirik Shikshan Pramukh Bibin, VHP Taluk Secretary Jayakumar, and former serviceman Jayaprakash, among others.

The delegation also met the family of Yasir Tirur, who had been killed in 1998 after embracing Islam. Yasir, earlier known as Ayyappan, was a 39-year-old goldsmith belonging to the Vishwakarma community. He was reportedly killed in Tirur on August 17, 1998, with the incident said to be connected to his conversion to Islam in 1990 along with his wife and children.

While those accused in the case were initially convicted by a High Court, they were later acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2016.

In addition, the group visited the family of Ashraf Pulpally, who was allegedly lynched in Mangaluru during a local dispute.

Ashraf, a 36-year-old Malayali Muslim man who was said to have mild mental health issues, was reportedly beaten to death by a Hindutva mob during a local cricket match in Mangaluru on April 27 last year.

According to the post-mortem report from Wenlock District Hospital, his death was attributed to internal bleeding and shock resulting from multiple severe injuries to his head, limbs, back, and genitals, allegedly inflicted using wooden logs and other blunt objects.

After the incident, some of the accused were said to have circulated claims that Ashraf had shouted “Pakistan Zindabad” during the match, apparently to justify the attack. However, others dismissed this allegation, describing it as a fabricated narrative intended to rationalise the violence.

The case of Zakariya from Parappanangadi was also highlighted. He was reportedly arrested as a teenager under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the 2008 Bengaluru blasts and has spent many years in prison without conviction. His family, particularly his ailing mother, was said to have been deeply affected by the prolonged legal process.

The delegation further met Yahya Kammukutti, who, according to the group, had been imprisoned for years before eventually being acquitted in what they described as a false case.

Leaders of the Solidarity Youth Movement, including its president Thoufeeq Mambad and general secretary T. Ismail, stated that these visits were part of a broader campaign against discrimination. They argued that Islamophobia should be treated as a serious offence and called for stronger action against hate speech and policies that allegedly fuel communal hostility.

They added that the movement would continue such outreach efforts, framing them as part of a wider struggle for justice, dignity, and recognition of the rights of the Muslim community.

The International Day to Combat Islamophobia, observed annually on March 15, was established by a United Nations General Assembly resolution in 2022. The initiative aims to raise awareness about discrimination and violence faced by Muslims globally, while encouraging efforts to promote tolerance, dialogue, and mutual respect among different communities.