MUMBAI: Bollywood veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has criticised a section of Indian Muslims for celebrating Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan, saying that it is a cause for concern.
Shah, in a video that has gone viral on Twitter, said every Indian Muslim must introspect if they want “reform and modernity” in the religion or live with dated “barbarian” values.
I am so glad #NaseeruddinShah has spoken against the inhuman and barbaric Taliban. I hope more and more educated and creative Muslims (specially from Bollywood) speak against these enemies of humanity. Bravo, Naseer Bhai. pic.twitter.com/RZUSGaugIe
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) September 2, 2021
“Even as the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan is a cause for concern for the whole world, celebrations of the barbarians in some sections of the Indian Muslims are no less dangerous,” Shah said in the video.
The actor said Indian Islam has been different from the rest of the world and hoped it never changes beyond recognition. “May Allah not bring a time when it changes so much that we cannot even recognise it,” he added.
The 71-year-old actor referenced Mirza Ghalib’s poem and said his relationship with the almighty is informal (betakaluff). “I don’t need a political religion,” he said.
While some social media users heaped praises on Naseeruddin Shah for taking a stand against the celebrations surrounding the Taliban takeover, others have slammed him saying “he should stick to films and steer clear of topics he has no knowledge about”.
The Taliban ousted the government in Afghanistan and took over the control of the country after capturing Kabul last month. Since the Taliban takeover, several Afghani artists voiced their reservations about where the arts and cultural activities in the country would stand.
