Controversial song associates Arab attire with terrorism, prompting organizations to seek police action

Online Desk: A controversial school performance in India’s Kerala state has triggered widespread criticism after children were made to perform a song depicting people dressed in traditional Arab attire as thieves and terrorists, raising serious concerns over the propagation of Islamophobic stereotypes and anti-Muslim prejudice through educational institutions.

The performance was presented by students of St. Mary’s School in Allapra, Perumbavoor, during a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) arts festival held at Mahilalayam School in Aluva.

The song explicitly associated Arab clothing with criminality and terrorism, portraying people dressed in such attire as individuals entering train coaches to frighten passengers and planting bombs on railway tracks.

“Thieves and terrorists, dressed in Arab attire, enter the coaches and we are afraid. Oh no, terrorists place bombs on the tracks and flee,” the lyrics stated.

The performance drew strong criticism for reinforcing Islamophobic stereotypes that associate Muslim identity and traditional Arab clothing with violence and terrorism.

Complaints lodged with police: Complaints submitted to police maintained that the performance promoted religious prejudice among children and risked normalising hostility towards Muslims in educational and cultural institutions.

The Ernakulam district committee of the Fraternity Movement lodged a complaint at Perumbavoor Police Station, demanding an investigation into the performance and action against those responsible.

Ashiq Panayikkulam, the organisation’s district general secretary, submitted the complaint, describing the use of children to promote racial and religious prejudice as a matter of serious concern.

The organisation stressed that schools should promote fraternity, tolerance and mutual respect rather than expose children to content that stigmatises religious communities. It warned that cultural programmes involving students were increasingly being used as platforms for spreading Islamophobia and deepening communal divisions.

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) also approached the police, seeking criminal action against the school authorities, festival organisers and those responsible for preparing the song.

Concerns over anti-Muslim prejudice: The controversy has reignited concerns over the propagation of anti-Muslim stereotypes through educational and cultural activities, particularly when children are exposed to material associating recognisable cultural and religious identities with terrorism.

Analysts warn that such portrayals can shape children’s perceptions of religious communities from an early age, undermining the responsibility of educational institutions to foster inclusivity, tolerance and mutual respect.

The complaints have once again drawn attention to concerns over Islamophobia in India’s educational institutions, with minority rights advocates warning against the normalisation of anti-Muslim prejudice and communal stereotypes in spaces meant for learning and social harmony.