Kerala filmmaker Ali Akbar renounces Islam to protest against those 'rejoicing' over Gen Rawat's death

Thiruvananthapuram, December 11

Malayalam film director Ali Akbar has announced that he and his wife were giving up Islam in protest against a section of social media users allegedly indulging in jubilation over the tragic death of CDS Bipin Rawat and his wife in a helicopter crash.

He made the announcement in a video posted on social media on Friday.

"I am not a Muslim from today onwards. I am an Indian," the film-maker said.

In the clip, he slammed those who had put smiley emoticons below the news reports related to the death of Gen Rawat, saying he could not stand with the “anti-nationals” anymore.

Akbar's decision comes in the wake of a section of members of a minority community reportedly rejoicing over Rawat's death.

In October, the film director-turned-politician had resigned from all responsibilities in the BJP, including as its state committee member, as he was "pained" by the Kerala unit's organisational-level action against BJP state secretary AK Nazeer.

Akbar, however, had said that he would continue as a member of the BJP.

In an emotional Facebook post, he had said that it was very difficult for the common man to understand the kind of humiliations and abuses being faced by a Muslim, from his own family and community, while working for the BJP.

The filmmaker is currently working on a film based on Malabar rebellion also called as Moplah riot that took place in north Kerala in 1921. PTI