A disturbing video circulating on social media platforms has ignited global condemnation as it sheds light on the acute religious discrimination faced by minority communities in India. The video, which emerged on Friday, captured a distressing incident in which a primary school teacher in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, subjected a young Muslim student to degrading treatment.
In the video, Trapta Tyagi, a teacher at Neha Public School in Kubbapur village, Uttar Pradesh, can be seen singling out a seven-year-old Muslim student named Mohammad Altamash. Tyagi’s actions took place in front of the entire class, as she demanded the child’s eviction solely based on his religion. Shockingly, she also encouraged Altamash’s classmates to slap him, further exacerbating the distressing situation.
A male voice in the video, assumed to be an associate of the teacher, can be heard endorsing her discriminatory stance. Tyagi’s statement, “I have declared that all Muslim children should go,” underscores the deeply concerning nature of the incident. The distressing footage captures young Altamash standing before his classmates, visibly distraught and terrified by the ordeal.
India may have made it to the moon but millions of Muslims still don't have basic rights as Muslims are lynched in public sight.
In this school the teacher asks Hindu children to slap a Muslim child, even berating them if they don't slap hard enoughpic.twitter.com/ci0YVgDpl2
— muslim daily (@muslimdaily_) August 25, 2023
The incident took place at Neha Public School in Kubbapur village, situated approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Muzaffarnagar town. Altamash’s parents, Mohammad Irshad and Rubina, recounted their son’s traumatic experience. Rubina expressed her shock and disappointment, stating, “Yesterday, my son came home crying… He was traumatized. This is not how you treat kids.” Altamash’s father, Mohammad Irshad, shared that the teacher even instructed his classmates to take turns slapping his son.
The video has ignited outrage not only within India but also across the international community. Critics argue that the incident exemplifies the pervasive religious discrimination that religious minorities often face in India. Muslims make up around one-fifth of the population in Uttar Pradesh, amounting to approximately 47 million people.
As the video continues to circulate on social media, calls for accountability and justice have grown stronger. Observers urge educational authorities and law enforcement agencies to take swift action against the teacher and any accomplices involved. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that religious minorities encounter in various parts of the world, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to promote inclusivity, tolerance, and respect for all.
