In what comes across as shocking, the 2024 Kerala University youth festival has been named ‘Intifada,’ a term historically associated with militant groups like Hamas in Palestine. The choice of the name has sparked concerns about the potential promotion of Islamism and anti-Semitism, particularly due to its connection with the violent activities of Hamas against Israel.
Intifada has been a term used by Palestinian terror groups, including Hamas, to describe their campaigns of violence against Israel. The festival’s adoption of this name has raised eyebrows, questioning the appropriateness of associating an event with a term linked to terrorism.
The poster designed for the event also hints at Palestine/Hamas – the scarf pattern embedded on the Palestine map. The words also read “Against Invasion”, “Defence of Art”
🚨 Shocking News 🔔
The 2024 Kerala University youth festival is named 'Intifada,' a term associated with terror groups like Hamas.
Intifada is the name used by terror groups in Palestine including Hamas for its attacks on Israel.
Its use raises concerns about promoting… pic.twitter.com/fc5vIb7BpG
— महारथी-മഹാരഥി (@MahaRathii) February 27, 2024
The Communist Party’s apparent involvement in the festival has added another layer of concern. Critics argue that such a choice by a political party could be perceived as endorsing or glorifying Islamic terrorism. The festival, scheduled to take place from 7 March to 11 March 2024, is now under scrutiny for the potential political and ideological implications tied to its nomenclature. The event will be held at Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram.
The term “Intifada,” originating from Arabic, translates to “uprising” or “shaking off.” Historically, it has been employed to characterize phases of fervent Palestinian protests against Israel, often manifesting in acts of violent terrorism. Two notable instances include the First Intifada, spanning from 1987 to 1990, and the Second Intifada, which occurred between 2000 and 2005.
The naming of an event after a term widely recognized for its connection to violent activities raises questions about the appropriateness of such choices, especially in an academic and cultural setting. The Kerala University youth festival website is not updated and hence does not provide more information on the topic.
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