New Delhi: “You’re looking like a Pathan, completely fair-skinned. The Hindus I’ve met and seen in my life are usually black,” Islamic scholar Mufti Tariq Masood was seen saying to a Hindu priest named Gosai Sriram at a Kali temple in Balochistan, Pakistan.
"You don't look like a Hindu. Hindus are black. You look like a Pathan."
– Mufti Tariq Masood (one of the most followed Mullah in Pakistan) to a Pak Hindu priest in temple pic.twitter.com/rF4LThMrZM
— Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) September 30, 2021
The seven-second video was shared on Thursday by Pakistan Untold, a Twitter account run by controversial Hindu commentator Vashi Sharma.
Pakistan Untold also uploaded a longer, two-minute video of Masood’s conversation with Sriram, which began with Masood asking if “4 marriages” can happen in Hinduism, to which the Hindu priest and others responded with laughter.
Pak Mufti in Hindu temple (Kaali 'Mandar'):
"1. Hindus can't have four wives
2. I am seeing Gora (white) Hindu for first time. Hindus are normally black
3. I wanted to ask many questions on Hindu faith – why eating cow is not allowed and why Hindus burn their women (Sati)" pic.twitter.com/cv4mzzCYUY
— Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) September 30, 2021
Masood repeated that he had never seen a fair-skinned Hindu before, which the Hindu priest again laughed at and explained that all the Hindus who go to his temple are fair-skinned.
The video also showed Masood’s thoughts on the meeting — he said he wanted to ask more questions about the worship of cows and the historical practice of “sati”, but was afraid of offending the Hindu priest.
Regardless of whether these remarks were bigoted bullying or ill-advised attempts at banter, Mufti Tariq Masood was widely criticised on Pakistani social media for perpetuating harmful stereotypes about a minority group in the country.
“He only keeps getting problematic…he is supposed to be a representative of a whole sect and this is what he says? Plain stupid,” user Muntazir e Imam said.
He only keeps getting problematic ?
Dude, He is supposed to be a representative of a whole sect and this is what he says?
Plain stupid https://t.co/x7fSCsq3Ih
— Muntazir e Imam (aj) ?? (@muntazireimam84) October 1, 2021
“Some one tell him that as you can find Muslims of every colour in Pakistan from Chitral to Tharparkar so in the same way Hindus can also be of many colors,” Bilal Abbasi said.
Some one tell him that as you can find Muslims of every colour in Pakistan from Chitral to Tharparkar so in the same way Hindus can also be of many colors.
— Bilal Abbasi (@Bilal406111) September 30, 2021
“The entire nation has been Brainwashed over the decades; this skin color thing is just one of the agenda items. Ulema are the perpetrators as well as the victims of this “brainwashing in the national interest”. We are digging deeper in the hole every passing day,” sociologist Shakil Rai said, while also pointing out that the word Hindu means “black” in Persian.
The entire nation has been Brainwashed over the decades; this skin color thing is just one of the agenda items. Ulema are the perpetrators as well as the victims of this “brain washing in the national interest”. We are digging deeper in the hole every passing day.
— Shakil Rai (@ShakilRai2) October 1, 2021
Maulana’s ignorance and bigotry notwithstanding the word Hindu does mean black in Persian and Urdu lexicon. The word was used by the Persian Empire of yore to describe the people on the other side of the Indus i.e. Sindh as Hindu bcz of their skin color.
— Shakil Rai (@ShakilRai2) October 1, 2021
There were also a select few who offered a defense of Masood’s remarks. Ruksana said on Twitter: “Those who are having problem with this statement or statement of Moulana, are actually the problem themselves as they think being dark is problematic.”
It is fact that 90% Hindus have dark complexion. Those who are having problem with this statement or statement of Moulana, are actually the problem themselves as they think being dark is problematic.
Also, most Muslims also have dark complexion. https://t.co/DqwuhvmLgB
— Ruksana (@stand4justice51) October 1, 2021
Masood’s history of remarks
This is not the first time that the prominent Mufti has attracted attention on social media for his controversial remarks.
Last month, he was mocked as well as supported by Pakistani Twitter users for appearing to victim blame TikToker Ayesha Akram who had been allegedly sexually assaulted on camera by hundreds of men at Minar-e-Pakistan.
Mufti Tariq Masood comments on the video of the TikTok #ayeshaakram girl who made the talk. I think theak kah rahy hn?#ayeshaakramexposed#qasimalishah
pic.twitter.com/VoNnfXVajI
— Tetoo Patiya (@Pola_620) August 22, 2021
According to The Nation.pk, on one occasion, Masood encouraged his followers to marry four women, three of whom should be divorced or widowed while the fourth a virgin.
According to a Dawn report, Masood had also opposed the demand for a bill against domestic violence.
“If a man is not allowed to be harsh (towards his wife), he will go towards divorce which will damage our family system. If we make it so that a father cannot beat his child, his child will not be his child anymore, he’ll be his father,” Aaj.tv quoted him.
Pakistani cricketer Tabish Khan, a pace bowler from Karachi, uploaded a picture of himself with Masood Thursday. “Peaceful chat with a wonderful personality,” he said.
Peaceful chat with a wonderful personality @mufti_tariq_masood .
#Islam #muftitariqmasood #deenislam #cricketlovers #muslim pic.twitter.com/w6idboPTC3
— IamTabishKhan (@tabbkhan84) September 30, 2021
Another user seemed to offer sarcastic praise for Masood, saying that comedians cannot compete with his “level”.
Today's comedians can't beat the sarcasm level of Mufti Tariq Masood.?? This man has a separate fan base?: pic.twitter.com/SkIjndfxGZ
— T U B A ☄ (@ViRgoGirL_T) August 15, 2021
(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)