Published:
Apr 19, 2024 17:25 GMT
The authors of the posters stated that they were “not promoting any enmity between religions or sects” and that they “were only referring to the sufferings of the people in Palestine.”
An Australian tourist of Jewish origin was arrested on Thursday in the southern Indian state of Kerala for tearing down pro-Palestinian posters, reported local media. A video of the altercation, which occurred between her and the locals, who condemned her act, has gone viral on social media.
Zara Shilensky Michele, 38, reportedly tore down pro-Palestinian posters, banners and billboards put up by the Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) in Kochi, a city known for being home to the oldest Jewish community in India. India. In the recording, the woman is heard stating that the posters promoted “propaganda and lies.”
An Austrian Jewish tourist was summoned by Kerala Police after a video of her tearing down a pro-Palestinian mural in Fort Kochi in Ernakulam district went viral on social media.Watch: pic.twitter.com/uoUMUulaAv
— Maktoob (@MaktoobMedia) April 16, 2024
The Australian Embassy in India was notified of the incident and two officials traveled to Kochi to provide legal assistance to the woman. The tourist was later produced before Kochi's Thoppumpady district court after which she was granted bail. She has been charged under Section 153 (provoking riot) of the Indian Panel Code (IPC).
For his part, the regional secretary of SIO he pointed in a complaint filed with the Police that the posters posted in December during a carnival “were not promoting any enmity between religions or sects.” “They were only referring to the sufferings of the people in Palestine,” he added.
The banners had images of a child in front of a battle tank. One of them said: “Silence is violence, stand up for humanity.” Likewise, it was learned that Michelle Schilenski also tore down other banners in other places in the city.
