3 more Hindus sacked in UAE for anti-Islam remarks

ISLAMABAD: As the anger widespread in Arab world against India and Hindu’s anti-Islam articulations and activities, three more Indians based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been sacked for "Islamophobic" posts on social media.

The Hindu expats had earlier been warned to desist from doing it. Chef Rawat Rohit, storekeeper Sachin Kinnigoli and a cash custodian, whose identity was withheld by his employer, are the latest additions to a list of about half a dozen Indians who have faced action for their obnoxious social media posts, the Gulf News reported on Saturday.

"It seems that the warnings have fallen on deaf ears as the list of Indian expats facing action over vile Islamophobic remarks on social media keeps getting longer," it said. Over the weekend, at least three more have been fired or suspended after their offensive posts were brought to the attention of employers by social media users, the report said.

A spokesperson for Azadea Group that operates Eataly, a chain of high-end Italian restaurants in Dubai, confirmed that Rohit had been suspended and was facing a disciplinary probe.

Sharjah-based Pneumics Automation had also said they suspended their storekeeper Kinnigoli until further notice. “We have withheld his salary and told him not to come to work. The matter is under investigation. We have a zero-tolerance policy. Anyone found guilty of insulting or showing contempt for someone’s religion will have to bear the consequences,” the firm’s owner was quoted as saying in the report.

Dubai-based Transguard Group said they have cracked down on an employee who had posted several anti-Islamic messages on his Facebook page under the name of Vishal Thakur. “Following an internal investigation, the actual identity of this employee was verified and he was stripped of his security credentials, terminated from our employment and handed over to the relevant authorities as per company policy. As of this statement, he is in the custody of Dubai Police,” a Transguard spokesperson said in a statement.

Last month, Sharjah-based businessman Sohan Roy had to apologise for “unintentionally hurting religious sentiments” through his poem, which alluded to a Muslim religious group. In March, chef Trilok Singh was fired from a restaurant in Dubai for an online threat against a student in Delhi over her views on the Citizenship Amendment Act.