Virat Kohli is being targeted online by extremists for supporting Muslim bowler Mohammad Shami while receiving rape threats to Anushka Sharma and his 10-month-old daughter.
Kohli came out in support of Shami a week after the match. But it cost him more than he had anticipated. Some people were unable to cope with the camaraderie and resorted to online abuse. They targeted the couple, not even sparing Kohli’s ten-month-old daughter, and threatened to rape her.
On October 24, India was defeated by archrival Pakistan by ten wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and Mohammed Shami was subjected to harsh online abuse.
After which Kohli issued a strong statement slamming trolls who questioned Shami’s ‘patriotism,’ saying:
“To me, attacking someone over their religion is the most pathetic thing that a human being can do. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion and what they feel about a certain situation. But personally I have never, ever, even thought of discriminating someone over their religion. That is a very personal and sacred thing to every human being and that should be left there. People take out their frustrations because they have no understanding of what we do as individuals and how much effort we put on the field.”
Here’s how Kohli and Anushka’s fans reacted to the rape threats to their daughter:
Instagram story of #AnushkaSharma says a lot pic.twitter.com/2VDZZNJFQG
— my dear Eleven (@EnaVazhkaiDa) November 1, 2021
This is Lahore, but imagine someone wearing T-shirt with the name of Babar Azam in Mumbai or Dehli. He she will no breath 🫁 next one hope for better 🙂🙂#AnushkaSharma#ViratKohli #BanIPL pic.twitter.com/fBTnfuxSgw
— Rashid Hayat Meo (@MeoRashid33) November 2, 2021
This is So Sad! 💔 #ViratKohli , Anushka's 10-month-old daughter receives rape threats after he defends Shami. #AnushkaSharma pic.twitter.com/uTrFZjFuKs
— NoOryy Fajar (@nooryyfajar) November 1, 2021
https://twitter.com/syedusman988183/status/1455204269653639172
