The image, shared by an Australian right-wing page, has received more than 1.4k reactions and 3,000 shares on Facebook
New Delhi: An image of an Australian sign board purportedly with anti-Islamic warning signs has gone viral on social media, with right-wing accounts in India picking it up and sharing it online, saying the country should follow the Australian example.
The image was first shared by the Facebook page ‘F.O.S.P’ Australia, which stands for Freedom of Speech Productions. It has 1,42,000 likes on its Facebook page. The page posts anti-Islamic and racist memes in droves.
In March, the page had posted this image
“The signboard says, “you are entering Australia, we have our own law system which is not Sharia law. Our way, not your way. Don’t like it? Then pack your bags and leave.”
The xenophobic content has become popular with right-wing trolls in India, many of whom propagate anti-Islamic content that is shared widely. The image is being shared with the message that India must learn from Australia while dealing with the Sharia law.
One such account tweeted
India must adopt the same policy towards its anti-hindu and anti-national minorities… pic.twitter.com/NpgkcsyCEL
— Ajit Doval (@AjitKDoval_FAN) June 30, 2018
The tweet had received more than 500 likes and 320+ retweets
The image, however, is a photoshopped one.
The actual image is from Western Australia and the signboard says ‘Road Trains 53.5 metres long’ All road trains 100 km/h MAX
One can see this photo on WA Experts websites, a caravan renting company in Western Australia.
It is also highly unlikely that such a signboard can come up as section 116 of the Australian Constitution says, “The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth”.
If that is not enough, geographically speaking, Australia is an island, and thus doesn’t share its borders with any other country. The only way to reach Australia is by air or sea. Finding a road sign saying ‘you are entering Australia’ is far from plausible.
In collaboration with SM Hoaxslayer
The sign comparison looks to show these are not the same signs. The bush along the road is clearly different and the signs are a different size. Compare the width of the lower sign in the WA version. It is smaller than the doctored sign. Match the width of it to the upper sign width in both photos. Also, the white road post behind the sign appear to not match. In one photo they are clearly further away from the sign. Something is not right.
First Photoshop and then ask the government to follow it. Amazing lie. What Australian Constitution says is already there in the Indian Constitution. Shameful tweets, shares and retweets. The efforts of the channel to expose the fake post is highly appreciable.