A video showing a woman in a white saree allegedly causing disruption during Eid prayers at a mosque in Virginia, US, is being circulated with claims that she, a Hindu, disturbed Muslim worshippers. It is further claimed that she uttered Islamophobic remarks and that her actions were influenced by Modi, BJP, and RSS ideologies.
Claim
A video showing a woman in a white saree allegedly causing disruption during Eid prayers at a mosque in Virginia, US, is being circulated with claims that she, a Hindu, disturbed Muslim worshippers. It is further claimed that she uttered Islamophobic remarks and that her actions were influenced by Modi, BJP, and RSS ideologies.
Misleading Comments
On Twitter and Facebook, the video is widely shared with a caption stating, “In Virginia, USA, a Hindu woman disrupted Eid prayers at a mosque, climbed the pulpit, and made Islamophobic remarks. She was subsequently arrested. Modi and BJP’s influence is spreading beyond India, poisoning minds. RSS ideology poses a threat to social cohesion in Western countries. Muslims are commended for their patience, refraining from reacting, which could have been exploited by her.”
Fact
The woman in question is not Hindu; she is described as a “mentally-disturbed” Muslim woman.
Verification
A tweet from the HinduACTion handle highlighted, “To understand the depth of Hinduphobia in Islamist circles in the US, consider this: A Bangladeshi Muslim woman stages a protest at a major Muslim community center in Virginia. Despite clarification from the Adams Center, social media continues for over 48 hours to mislabel her as ‘Indian’ and ‘Hindu woman,’ fueling hatred against Hindus. This misinformation stems from organized efforts targeting American Hindu and Indian communities.”
Inspired by these accounts, we investigated the social media profiles of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center. On April 22, 2023, we discovered a clarification posted on their Instagram page confirming that the woman involved was from the Muslim community. The center attributed her behavior to mental health challenges.
Another tweet from adams.center
“Dear Community, Assalamu Alaykum, and Eid Mubarak,
We want to clarify that the recent incident at the mosque on Friday, April 21st, during the ADAMS Sterling, Virginia, Eid prayer involved an individual from the Muslim community struggling with mental health issues.
ADAMS leadership and social services have met and are working with the family to provide additional resources and help. The family sincerely asks for forgiveness for the incident in the morning during Eid prayers. The family has requested that those who posted the video to please remove it from social media to protect the family’s privacy since the video is causing additional stress to the family.
Mental health challenges can affect individuals from all walks of life, and it is important to approach such situations with empathy and understanding. We recognize that this was an isolated incident.
As a community, we are committed to promoting inclusivity, tolerance, and understanding amongst all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances. We encourage everyone to refrain from making assumptions or generalizations based on this incident, and to remember that mental health issues are complex and require proper care and attention.
We appreciate the ongoing support of our community during this time, and we will continue to work towards creating a safe and respectful environment for all members of our mosque,” the post read.
Conclusion
The claims of a Hindu woman causing disturbance at a US mosque during Eid prayers are untrue.
