Suhana Sayeed, 22, from the southern state of Karnataka, is a contestant on the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa programme.
According to reports, a Facebook page called Mangalore Muslims began trolling her and called her a disgrace to the community.
Written in Kannada, the post could be reportedly translated as:
“Suhana you have tarnished the Muslim Community by singing in front of men. Do not feel that you have achieved a great feat; people who learn to recite Quran in 6 months have achieved more. Your parents have encouraged you to show your beauty to other men, they will not go to heaven because of you. Please give up the pardah that you are wearing as you don’t respect it”
There are also more than 700 comments on various posts of Mangalore Muslims, many of which support Sayeed.
“This page just divides people!” said one user. “Shame! There are so many Muslim singers singing Hindu devotional songs. Nobody bats an eye when Hindus sing quawali [form of Sufi devotional music].”
No one had the right to interfere in someone’s life. “We have no rights to judge other’s mistake. Only Allah can…” the user added.
Another user said Pakistani Muslims were more tolerant than Mangalore Muslims, pointing out that many Muslims sang for the popular Pakistani music programme Coke Studio.
