Sara Ather

Jun 6, 2024 | middleeasteye.net | Peter Oborne |Sara Ather |Haris Zargar

In a dramatic scene right out of a Bollywood movie, Indian voters have shredded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plans for a supermajority in the Indian Parliament as his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a third term but with a weakened mandate. It was nothing short of a "karmic" end to India's highly polarised parliamentary elections, which saw Modi, 73, proclaim himself as someone divine, who is "not biological" but "sent by God" to lead the country.

Jun 2, 2024 | middleeasteye.net | Sara Ather |Haris Zargar |Peter Oborne

With 24 hours to go until the result of India's general election are announced, Prime Minister Nahendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looks on course for a resounding victory. But one conclusion is already certain. Modi has fought the most sinister election campaign since Indian independence 78 years ago. Key political opponents have been arrested. Congress, India’s main opposition party, which led India to independence, has had its bank accounts frozen.

Apr 12, 2024 | themuslimtimes.info | Rafiq A. Tschannen |Sara Ather

Sara Ather 11 April 2024 11:35 BST | Last update: 1 day 17 hours ago Important celebrations, such as Ramadan and Eid, are being publicly stifled and marked by peaks of discriminatory violence Indian devotees take part in a religious procession to mark the Ram Navami festival in Siliguri on 14 April 2019 (Diptendu Dutta/AFP) In the popular consciousness, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise to power transcends politics; it is imagined as the turn of an era – the return of the golden age...

Apr 10, 2024 | middleeasteye.net | Haris Zargar |Sara Ather

In the popular consciousness, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise to power transcends politics; it is imagined as the turn of an era - the return of the golden age of Hindu rule that was destined to arrive. This sentiment is reflected in how Hindu nationalism today is heavily invested in creating a new timeline to mark the initiation of this anticipated epoch. Within this transformation, the “Hinduisation” of the national calendar plays a crucial role.

Jul 4, 2023 | peoplesreview.com.np | Sara Ather

By Sara Ather In India, Islamophobic propaganda from the right often capitalises on unfounded fears of a Muslim population expansion. This deep-seated belief has given birth to a conspiracy theory known as “love jihad“, which alleges that Muslim men are actively seeking to entice Hindu women and convert them to Islam.