A rally held in support of Palestinians in Kerala’s Malappuram district has ignited controversy following a virtual address by former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised concerns, deeming the event an “alarming glorification of terrorists,” and questioning the state government’s permission to host it. The organizers, the Solidarity Youth Movement, have defended the rally, asserting that Hamas constitutes a resistance movement, and Meshaal is a freedom fighter. They have also emphasized that Hamas is not an active or banned organization in India.
The virtual presence of Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal a day before the rally has raised eyebrows, particularly among those who raise questions about the event’s approval within a state governed by the Left.
The organizers, known as the Solidarity Youth Movement (SYM), have dismissed the controversy and emphasized that Hamas represents a “resistance movement,” with Meshaal being referred to as a “freedom fighter.”
The rally, titled the “Youth Resistance Rally,” featured a pre-recorded video address by Meshaal in Arabic. Its theme was “Uproot Bulldozer Hindutva and Apartheid Zionism.” While the organizers had announced that another Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, would also address the rally virtually, he did not do so.
State BJP president K. Surendran expressed alarm at the event. “Where is Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s police force? They are glorifying Hamas, a terrorist organization, and its leaders as ‘warriors’ under the guise of ‘Save Palestine.’ This is unacceptable,” wrote Surendran while sharing a photo of Meshaal’s virtual address.
The SYM defended Meshaal’s presence at the rally, emphasizing that the Palestinian Legislative Council is an influential entity in Gaza and the West Bank. In the last election, the party won 74 out of 132 seats, making it a significant political force. They argued that it is not unusual for the leader of such an organization to speak at a Palestinian solidarity event in Malappuram.
Furthermore, the SYM clarified that Hamas is neither an active nor banned organization in India. They accused certain groups of attempting to stifle protests and voices. They claimed that there is a conspiracy to label those supporting Palestine as terrorists, perpetuating false propaganda and aiming to suppress public protests against India’s stance on Israel.
