Indian Muslims are protesting the opening of cinema halls in Saudi Arabia’s Medina

In a move to show resentment over Saudi Arabia’s decision to permit cinema halls in the holy city of Madinah, Indian Muslims staged a protest on Thursday. Islamist organisation, Raza Academy Muslims called for an online protest with people joining in using the hashtags “#BanCinemaInMadinaShareef”, “#ShameOnYouSaudiGovt”.

Raza Academy’s protest against Saudi Arabia 

Recently, Saudi Arabia approved cinema halls and entertainment centres in Madinah al Munawwarah – the Prophet Muhammad’s final resting place. Soon after the news broke out, it sparked massive outrage in India. Various organisations in India including Raza Academy protested against Saudi Arabia’s decision.

The infamous organisation, Raza Academy, on Thursday, raised anti-Saudi slogans outside Minara Mosque in Mumbai. The members of the Raza Academy held posters that quoted ‘Stop Cinema Halls in Madina Munawwarah’ and ‘Open the Gate of Harmain Sharifain’.

The Muslim body, in a press release, stated that “Saudi Arabia has lost its credentials as an Islamic state, and claimed that the state has opened cinema halls in Madina as a part of a conspiracy by Israel to induce western culture in the heart of Muslims.”

Raza Academy, on Thursday, took to Twitter to inform about the protest and tweeted, “Today Raza Academy stage a demonstration against the Saudi government for opening cinema halls in Madina Munawwara #BanCinemaInMadinaShareef #ShameOnYouSaudiGovt @KingSalman @KSAembassyIND    

Various Indian Muslims also tweeted against Saudi Arabia and slammed the Saudi Government for the decision. A Twitter user, Saeed Noori tweeted, “Madina Shareef belongs to entire ummah, not to the servants of Israel #BanCinemaInMadinaShareef #ShameOnYouSaudiGovt @KingSalman @KSAembassyIND    

How these protests will affect the security scenario in India

While the protest by Raza Academy will merely affect Saudi Arabia, it has a loud and clear message for India. Such radical protests by extremist Muslim organisations in India reflect their inclination towards Sharia Law, and disregard for basic freedoms.

The notorious Raza Academy 

Raza Academy, the Islamist organisation always caught up in controversies, has had numerous such rendezvous in the past. Earlier reported by TFI, In October 2020, Raza Academy threatened to file a case against the Maharashtra government if they did not permit to carry out the Eid-e-Milad procession.

Similarly, the Academy had urged the Muslim countries to issue a fatwa against French President Emmanuel Macron for supporting free speech. As reported by TFI, Macron had talked about how the Muslims in France were trying to create a “parallel society” and promoting “Islamic Separatism” within the country.

Read more: Islamists demand ban on Netflix, Raza Academy wants strict action against the platform for Nava Rasa poster

Moreover, in a shameful incident, during violent protests led by Raza Academy, Muslim youngsters damaged the Amar Jawan Memorial in Mumbai in 2012.

In a nutshell, Raza Academy is infamous for promoting radical Islamist ideas. It is high time such extremist Islamist organisations should be prohibited from performing any actions and promoting radical Islamist ideas that could threaten India’s peace and integrity and even hamper relations with nations like Saudi Arabia which are finally warming up to progressive ideals.