Assam clerics issue fatwa against Indian Idol Junior finalist Nahid Afrin

A huge outcry has erupted over 46 Assamese clerics issuing a fatwa against a 16-year-old former reality show contestant. Nahid Afrin, who finished as first runner-up in the singing reality show Indian Idol Junior in 2015, has been targeted by the fundamentalists for singing songs that deride terrorism. 

The Guwahati police has been investigating the matter whether the fatwa is a reaction to Afrin singing songs against terrorism recently.

"We are looking at this angle as well," ADG (special branch) Pallab Bhattacharya told The Times of India newspaper.

The matter came to light after leaflets bearing the fatwa, written in Assamese, were circulated across Hojai and Nagaon districts in Central Assam on Tuesday (14 March).

As per the fatwa, Afrin is scheduled to perform at Udali Sonai Bibi College in Lanka, Assam where she is allegedly set to perform against the Sharia.

"If anti-Sharia acts like musical nights are held on grounds surrounded by masjids, idgahs, madrassas and graveyards, our future generations will attract the wrath of Allah,” the fatwa stated.

The 16-year-old, though, has refused to be cowed down by such threats.

“I am speechless. I think my music is God's gift to me. I will never bow down to it (such warnings) and never leave singing,” Afrin told The Times Of India.

Afrin's mother stated that concert has not been cancelled. “The organisers of the musical night told us that the programme on 25 March will not be cancelled,” said her mother.

The young singer today stated that she was backed by other fellow Muslim singers too. “Was shocked and broken from inside at first, but many Muslim singers gave me inspiration to not quit music, will never do so,’ Afrin told ANI news agency.

Afrin had sung a version of 'Rajj Rajj Ke' in Sonakshi Sinha-starrer Akira (2016).

Meanwhile, music-director and singer Vishal Dadlani, who has earlier adjudicated Indian Idol junior, slammed the hardliners.

Dadlani expressed his thoughts on Twitter.