Assam: 42 clerics issue fatwa against reality singing star; CM says commitment to provide security

As many as 42 clerics have issued a fatwa against reality singing star Nahid Afrin, who was the first runner-up of a musical reality TV show, asking her to stop performing in public.

According to reports, the fatwa has been issued against her keeping in view an upcoming event that was to be held on March 25. Since the venue of the event was in the vicinity of a mosque and a graveyard, the clerics have announced to boycott her singing programmes and have asked her to stop performing in public.

The young singer was shocked when she first heard of the fatwa against her. "I was shocked and broken from inside at first. But, many Muslim singers gave me inspiration to not quit music. I will never do so," she said.

"I think my music is God's gift to me. I believe it must be properly utilised; not doing so is ignoring God," she added.

Nahid, who made her Bollywood singing debut for actress Sonakshi Sinha in the 2016 movie 'Akira', first rose to stardom after a successful stint on a reality singing show in the year 2015.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal strongly condemned it saying, the government will protect her. "We strongly condemn putting restrictions on performance by young talented singer Nahid Afrin by some organisations," he tweeted.

Stating that freedom of artists are essence of democracy, he said, "Spoke to Nahid and reiterated our government is commitment to provide safety and security to artists."

Freedom of artists are essence of democracy. Spoke to Nahid and reiterated our Govt's commitment to provide safety and security to artists.

— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) March 14, 2017

(With ANI inputs)