Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen made headlines after her latest ‘sarcastic comment’ on England’s Muslim cricketer Moeen Ali and calling pacer Jofra Archer an ‘extremist’.
Moeen Ali, recruited by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to appear in IPL starting from April 9, requested the CSK management to remove the logo of the liquor brand from his jersey due to religious beliefs.
The request was churlishly welcomed and fulfilled by the CSK management.
We got it Ali figured out. Welcome to the #SuperFam! #WhistlePodu #Yellove #SuperAuction 💛🦁 pic.twitter.com/5IW7hM1xPi
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) February 18, 2021
However, Nasreen stirred a controversy when she remarked that England’s all-rounder Moeen Ali would have joined the militant Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) if he had not been part of IPL.
She added, “If Moeen Ali were not stuck with cricket, he would have gone to Syria to join IS.” After backlash, the tweet was later deleted by the author.
Soon after the news spread, people came forward in support of Moeen Ali and questioned the Bangladeshi author for her remarks.
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Moreover, activist Kavita Krishnan criticized Nasreen and called her a garden-variety bigot.
Shame on you @taslimanasreen. You will be remembered as a garden variety bigot not a writer, certainly not a rationalist or feminist. https://t.co/tjjeheBmdJ
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) April 6, 2021
Nasreen replied sarcastically to the criticism.
Oh my! I was your fan!Why so much intolerance? U don’t believe in free speech of those ppl whom u hate?Becoz u don’t like my tweet, I’m no writer, no rationalist,no feminist?My struggle for 40yrs gone! Before issuing such a hateful fatwa,u could hv asked me why said tht abt Ali. https://t.co/25yVz0jm2I
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) April 6, 2021
Furthermore, English pacer Jofra Archer also questioned Taslima if she was feeling okay.
Are you okay ? I don’t think you’re okay https://t.co/rmiFHhDXiO
— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) April 6, 2021
Lajja author Nasreen tried offsetting the carping effect her tweet regarding Moeen Ali had generated and maintained it was purposefully ‘sarcastic’ but internet users made it controversial.
Haters know very well that my Moeen Ali tweet was sarcastic. But they made that an issue to humiliate me because I try to secularize Muslim society & I oppose Islamic fanaticism. One of the greatest tragedies of humankind is pro-women leftists support anti-women Islamists.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) April 6, 2021
To which Jofra Archer added that he doesn’t find anything sarcastic and it pretty much was a slur.
Sarcastic ? No one is laughing , not even yourself , the least you can do is delete the tweet https://t.co/Dl7lWdvSd4
— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) April 6, 2021
England pacer asked the author to delete the tweet.
Moreover, a senior correspondent of The Print India highlighted how Moeen’s teammate came in his defense against an ‘Islamophobic attack’ and contrasted it with what happens in India.
Moeen Ali was subject to an islamophobic attack and his teammates immediately rallied behind him, calling out the bigot. Contrast this with India, where Muslim actors, sportspersons, celebrities of all fields face vilest attacks routinely and their lifelong colleagues stay mum. pic.twitter.com/10On9KdiVC
— Fatima Khan (@khanthefatima) April 6, 2021