![These X posts mainly took aim at Muslims selling clay lamps in small roadside shops for Deepavali [File] | Photo Credit: Reuters](https://newspage360.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2024-12-23T130831Z_2049303074_RC24E2AEGING_RTRMADP_3_TWITTER-SUBSCRIPTIONS-1068x601.jpg "These X posts mainly took aim at Muslims selling clay lamps in small roadside shops for Deepavali [File] | Photo Credit: Reuters")
Platform X Used to Promote Religious Boycott Ahead of Deepavali
Ahead of Deepavali celebrations on October 20, far-right users on Platform X (formerly Twitter) orchestrated a coordinated campaign promoting an economic boycott of Muslim sellers, with some posts amassing over 2.6 lakh views.
Key Takeaways
- Verified X accounts promoted religious discrimination in shopping choices
- Posts specifically targeted Muslim sellers of Deepavali clay lamps and other goods
- Some content used historical tragedies and AI-generated media to justify boycotts
- Multiple posts gained significant traction with thousands of views
Targeted Campaign Against Muslim Sellers
The campaign specifically focused on Muslim vendors selling traditional clay lamps for Deepavali. Far-right users openly urged buyers to “choose Hindu” and purchase exclusively from Hindu sellers. One verified account directly instructed followers to “Buy from Hindu” in a post that gained substantial visibility.
Exploiting Past Tragedies for Discrimination
Several posts referenced the 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack, using the killing of Hindu tourists to justify religious discrimination against Indian Muslims during festival shopping. Other content cited past stone-pelting incidents from communal clashes as rationale for the economic boycott.
Visual Propaganda and UPI Monitoring
A cartoon-style illustration depicting a Muslim man holding a Pakistani flag accumulated over 9,000 views while promoting boycott of an Indian gold company. Another popular post advised users to check seller names via UPI apps before purchasing, suggesting they support only those who celebrate Deepavali in their own homes.
AI-Generated Content and Platform Accountability
Campaign organizers employed Generative AI media to amplify their religion-based boycott message. This occurs as Platform X faces ongoing criticism for inadequate hate speech moderation since Elon Musk’s 2022 acquisition, with verified users reportedly monetizing such content.
