Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
The Crown Prince Of UAE “acknowledges” that Kashmir is a Hindu Land.
Fact
Old video of controversial Muslim Cleric Mohammad Tawhidi, known as “Imam of Peace” shared with false claims.
Several social media users shared a forty-second-long-video claiming to show the Crown Prince of UAE “acknowledging” that Kashmir is Hindu land, and that he doesn’t see Pakistan as a suitable negotiator on the issue. Newschecker, however, found the claim to be untrue.
In the video, the man identified as UAE’s Crown Prince is heard saying, “My position on the Kashmir issue is very…very clear. I am not a politician. I only care about history and religion. I know that Islam came to India much later than Hinduism… had already existed.”
“Pakistan claimed independence way after all this happened, 70 years ago. So I don’t see that Pakistan is a suitable negotiator regarding Kashmir, I don’t think they even have the right to speak. I believe it’s Hindu land. My position is that Kashmir is Hindu land and I say this in front of everyone,” he adds.
The video is being widely shared across social media platforms, with users claiming that their “stand on Kashmir is acknowledged by His highness the Crown Prince of UAE Kashmir is Hindu Land”
Such posts can be seen here, here, and here.
Also Read: Islamic Chants During Navratri In West Bengal? No, 2023 Video From TMC Rally Shared With False Claim
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Crown Prince,” “UAE” “Kashmir” and “Hindu Land” on Google did not yield any credible results indicating that such a statement was made by a member of the Royal family of any of the Emirates.
We then skimmed through the comment section of the posts carrying the viral footage, and noticed multiple users identifying the man seen in the clip as one “Imam of Peace.”
Taking a clue, we searched for “Imam of Peace” on Google, which yielded information on one ‘Mohammad Tawhidi’, an Australian “Imam”. Notably, Imam is a Muslim religion leader.
We compared the man seen in the viral footage to the visuals of Tawhidi posted on the Instagram profile of “Imam of Peace,” and could conclude them to be the same person.
Also Read: Calf Meat Thrown Inside Temple In Hyderabad? Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Claim
But Did The ‘Imam Of Peace’ Call Kashmir A “Hindu Land”?
A keyword search for “Imam Tawhidi” “Kashmir” and “Hindu Land” on YouTube led us to a post by @mukundansanthanam4648, dated October 11, 2020, carrying a longer version of the viral video. We noticed a watermark of “Arth – A Cultural Fest’ on the top left corner in the video.
Following this, we skimmed through the official YouTube channel of Arth, and found a video of Australian Muslim Scholar Imam Tawhidi’s conversation on “Importance of Inter-Faith Dialogues “ during the Arth – A Culture Fest held at Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts (IGNCA), Delhi in February, 2019.
Around 55 minutes into the video, we spotted the same clip of Imam Tawhidi remarks on Kashmir.
Also Read: Video of Vandalised Durga Idol In Hyderabad Viral With False Communal Narrative
Conclusion
Old remarks by a Muslim Cleric widely known as the “Imam of Peace” have been falsely shared to show the Crown Prince of UAE “acknowledging” that Kashmir is Hindu Land.
Result: False
Sources
Instagram Profile Of @theimamofpeace
YouTube Video By Arth, Dated February 13, 2019
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
