Paul Pogba takes stand for hijab protests.
Paul Pogba, a footballer, has taken a stand for hijab protests.
Manchester United footballer Paul Pogba shared on his Instagram story on Thursday that "Hindutva mobs continue to abuse Muslim girls wearing Hijab to college in India," referring to protests in Karnataka over college students being denied the ability to wear a hijab.
Pogba, a Frenchman whose mother is Muslim and who converted to Islam in 2019, reposted a 58-second clip released by the London-based Instagram account _islamismydeen_.
A large crowd of boys and adults wearing (or waving) saffron scarves surrounds a small group of young girls wearing hijabs at the start of the video. As the dust rises from the altercation, the mob, which at least counts several dozen masculine males, can be heard shouting and chanting.
Only two police officers are visible, and a few more males appear to be holding hands to form a protective barrier around the girls.
The video then shows a young woman, apparently a teacher, cautiously unlatching a classroom door, which is subsequently stormed by dozens of lads dressed in even more saffron scarves and cheering.
The final segment depicts even more guys — by this point, there appear to be hundreds of them – waving saffron flags, dancing, and cheering as they walk down a street.
When and where each of the video were shot is unknown.
When and where each of the video were shot is unknown.
Pogba isn't the only international celebrity to highlight the hijab protests; Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai noted on Wednesday that "refusing to let girls attend school in hijabs is awful."
A maelstrom of voices has erupted in support of (and against) both sides across the country, with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra among those who have spoken out.
Male students heckled a Muslim female, screaming 'Jai Shri Ram,' at a college in Mandya district on Tuesday, escalating the tension. "Allah hu Akbar," she yelled at the aggressors.