• As part of a calculated effort to suppress truth, India blocks the YouTube channels of 5Pillars, Smile 2 Jannah &Mohammed Hijab ahead of their attack on Pakistan.
• Despite this censorship, our brothers remain steadfast in their commitment to advocating for the oppressed.
India was evidently engaged in calculated efforts to manipulate public perception in the lead-up to its brutal assault on Pakistan last night. The Indian government continues to employ fascist tactics to silence opposition and manipulate how it is perceived both at home and on the global stage. Behind the mask of a so-called democracy lies a regime intolerant of criticism—where free speech is not protected, but persecuted.
Last week prominent da’ee Mohammed Hijab’s YouTube channel was blocked. In a direct address to Indian Prime Minister Modi on X, Hijab affirms his unwavering commitment to speaking out against the injustice, oppression and plight of Indian and Kashmiri Muslims and declares that he will not be silenced.
In a brazen act of censorship, India yesterday blocked the YouTube channel of 5Pillars — a British Muslim news platform led by credible, professional journalists—our brothers, who are doing outstanding work speaking up for oppressed Muslims of the world. What truth is India so afraid of that it felt the need to silence them?
Robert Carter of 5Pillars remained evidently undeterred:
And then they came for our dear brother Zeeshan Ali — the force behind Smile 2 Jannah where faith meets fearless commentary, laced with wit and truth. Brother Zeeshan is also the founder of S2J News. For years, he has fearlessly spoken out regarding the oppressed Muslims of India, voicing truths that many do not utter.
What India didn’t account for, however, is the decade-strong following brother Zeeshan has cultivated Allahumma Barik. His message is so compelling that countless Indians are defying the blackout, turning to VPNs to hear him speak.
Brother Zeeshan is a dedicated social and political commentator with a substantial Youtube following of over one million. He has earned his place among the 500 most influential Muslims in the world. Tirelessly committed to raising awareness, he has consistently found innovative ways to produce compelling YouTube content that educates the masses about the ongoing plight of Muslims in India and Kashmir. Nevertheless, this setback has not dissuaded Brother Zeeshan from persisting in his advocacy for the oppressed. For those in India, you can still follow his work on social media platforms such as X, Instagram, and TikTok.
As for the so-called democratic government of India: In 2022, a chorus of voices, comprising European parliamentarians, IT experts, and officials, raised a resounding alarm regarding India’s persistent employment of troll farms across the digital world, exerting political influence and promoting Islamophobia. The venerated Meta whistleblower Sophie Zhang said that “India is embroiled in an escalating troll farm arms race.” Furthermore, from 2019-2022, the largest number of anti-Muslim tweets was in India.
In these turbulent times, we find ourselves in a society eerily reminiscent of Orwell’s dystopian vision in 1984 — marked by censorship and the suppression of truth. However, in the midst of these challenges, our brothers serve as a beacon of courage, reminding us to stand resolute and be bold in the face of adversity, all in pursuit of earning the pleasure of our benevolent Lord, Allah azza Wa Jal.
“And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.” — Surah Al-Anfal (8:30)
