A female tourist was arrested by the Kerala Police for ripping down pro-Palestine banners in Kochi. The event was caught on camera and went viral. Comments on the video expressed support for Palestine and criticized the tourists for what happened.
The Kerala Police have filed a complaint against a female tourist who was allegedly from Austria for damaging pro-Palestine banners in Kochi. Members of the Students Islamic Organization (SIO) are said to have put up the posters, which purportedly included anti-Israel sentiment in response to Israel’s assault on Palestine.
On Monday night, SIO Kochi area secretary Muhammad Azeem KS submitted a complaint against the foreign national, and on Monday evening, the case was lodged at the Fort Kochi police station limit.
Two female international visitors were present, according to a senior police official. One of them is said to have smashed the pro-Palestine posters that the students had erected in front of Kochi’s Jankar Jetty. She has been charged with purposeful provocation to incite a riot under section 153 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
According to the police, protest statements condemning Israel’s raid on Palestinian territories were written on the boards.
Following the banners’ removal, a video purportedly showing the foreign visitor getting into a confrontation with SIO activists were widely shared on social media.
An X user responded to the video by saying that many people in Kerala are engaged in combat for Palestine. “They were hurting so much because of this. All of these volunteers should go to Gaza and provide direct assistance. It’ll work better!” “Kerala overwhelmingly stands with Palestine,” said another user.
“The entitlement is outrageous with these people,” one American user wrote on the video, while another said, “She is a walking poster child for Racial Supremacy.”
Since the war between Hamas and Israel started last year, several pro-Palestine demonstrations have been planned around the state.
One similar protest in the Malappuram area last year was practically addressed by Hamas leader Khaled Mashal. The youth arm of Jamaat-Islami in Kerala, Solidarity Youth Movement, was in charge of organizing the demonstration.
About the rally, the BJP cornered the opposition alliance INDIA, calling it “anti-national” and “anti-Sanatan” activities.
“Hamas leader Khaled Mashel’s virtual address at the solidarity event in Malappuram is alarming,” stated Kerala BJP president K Surendran in a post on X. Pinarayi Vijayan’s Kerala Police: where are they? Under the pretense of ‘Save Palestine,’ they are elevating the terrorist group Hamas and its leaders to the status of ‘warriors.’ This can’t happen! HMO in India.
