Hardliners allegedly burn Kerala photographer’s studio for 'questioning' Islamic practice

Kannur: A photographer’s studio was burnt down in Kerala's Kannur on Sunday by suspected Islamist hardliners, after he raised questions on the tradition of purdah in a Whatsapp group.

According to reports, the photographer, Rafeeque Taliparamba, commmented in a Whatsapp group 'What is Islam' that purdah was being used by some people for immoral activities in the name of a cultural practice. While some supported his statement, there were others who disagreed and Rafeeque claimed that he had been receiving threatening messages since.

Things assumed finality when he found his shop ransacked and burnt.

In his police complaint, Rafeeque reportedly said that he has suffered a damage of ten lakh rupees owing to the destruction of his recently-renovated shop in Taliparamba.

Rafeeque, who is the admin of the whatsapp group, said that the group was for friends and acquaintances.

In a Facebook post, Rafeeque alleged that there were certain people who were spreading false information and defaming him on social media.

Making it clear that no religion appealed to his intellect, he said, “I have not deliberately insulted any religion. I have just questioned practices that I do not agree with, and that too with the motive of learning. If it is essential for one to have religion and a god, my family is my religion and my mother is my God."

Police said that the case is under investigation and that the members of the Whasapp group are being monitored.