Al-Jazeera

A short clip shared by Al Jazeera from its programme Doha Debates has triggered sharp reactions on social media after an Indian student, Hana Muneer, stated that she does not feel a sense of belonging to India as a Muslim and claimed that the Indian state had “stripped” her of agency.

In the clip, Muneer said, “Whether I feel belonging to India or not, I would say, a quite crisp no, because as a Muslim… I feel like the state has stripped me of my agency,” adding that she was interested in exploring a “universal moral order”.

“Whether I feel belonging to India or not, I would say, quite crisp no.”

Student Hana Muneer says that as an Indian Muslim, she does not feel represented by the state. #DohaDebates pic.twitter.com/hsrPh8l9NU

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 17, 2025

Her remarks were responded to by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who expressed concern over her sense of alienation and said such exclusion ran contrary to the foundational idea of India.

Tharoor said that his understanding of India was one where no citizen should feel excluded on grounds of religion, language, ethnicity or region. He added that if she had been made to feel that way, it was regrettable. Pointing to recent events, Tharoor cited India’s military briefings during Operation Sindoor, which were led by two women officers, including a Muslim officer, as an example of India publicly asserting its pluralism and framing the conflict as one against terrorism rather than religion.

The clip has since drawn criticism from commentators who argue that such debates selectively amplify narratives of alienation while ignoring countervailing realities on the ground. Critics have pointed out that Muneer currently resides in Qatar, a country whose state-owned media is the same Al Jazeera that has been seen making biased regional political positioning, raising questions about the platform and framing of the debate.

Critics highlighted that during Operation Sindoor, Indian Muslim officers and personnel played visible and substantive roles across the armed forces. Muslim women officers addressed the nation from official podiums, and Muslim pilots flew combat missions alongside Hindu, Sikh and Christian colleagues, supported by the Army and Navy. They argue that these facts complicate claims that Indian Muslims are institutionally excluded or unrepresented by the state.

Observers have also criticised what they describe as a recurring pattern in certain international debate formats, where individual grievance narratives are presented without sufficient context or factual balance, potentially feeding into broader perception-shaping efforts rather than genuine dialogue.

While debates on identity and belonging remain legitimate and complex, critics argue that selective framing and omission of counter-examples risk turning nuanced discussions into oversimplified political messaging, particularly when broadcast on globally influential platforms.

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The post “Indian Muslim” Student In Qatar Says She Doesn’t Feel ‘Belonging To India’, Anti-India Propaganda Channel Al-Jazeera Laps It Up appeared first on The Commune.