Following the uproar, in India and abroad, over now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has asked Muslims to not participate in news debates which are intended to mock Islam and Muslims.

“Not only do they not serve Muslims or Islam in any way by participating in such shows, they end up making themselves, Muslims and Islam targets of ridicule,” the organisation said in a statement, referring to Muslim TV talking heads. “For these programmes aren’t meant to engage constructive discussion, but only to ridicule and defame Muslims and Islam.”

It goes on to say that TV news channels invite Muslim faces on their shows merely to project “neutrality”. “And our scholars fall prey to this deceit. If we boycotted these programmes and channels, they would not only lose TRPs but fail in their plans.”