Fact-check: Cricketer Moeen Ali did not tweet about 'boycotting India'
Post circulated as Muslims took to streets in huge protests around Asia, sparked by firebrand politician Nupur Sharma's...
A screenshot circulating across multiple social media platforms in South Asia appears to show a tweet from England cricketer Moeen Ali saying he would not play another match in India unless the country apologised for a ruling party official’s controversial remarks about the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). However, the claim is false; the account from which the tweet was shared has been suspended, and the England cricket board told AFP the account was fake.
The screenshot was shared in a Facebook posthereon June 8, 2022.
It appears to show a tweet from "Moeen Munir Ali" that reads:"If India does not apologise for its blasphemous statement, I will never go to India to play a match again. I will also boycott the IPL."
"And I will appeal to my fellow Muslim brothers to do the same. I love Muhammad (PBUH)."
Moeen Aliis a professional cricketer who plays for England.
He also plays for theChennai Super Kingsin India’s domestic cricket tournament, the IPL.
The post circulated as Muslims took to the streets inhuge protestsaround Asia, sparked by firebrand politicianNupur Sharma's comments during a televised debate about the Prophet Mohammed’s(PBUH) relationship with his youngest wife.
Sharma -- who was a regular fixture on Indian television, where she acted as a mouthpiece for the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- wassuspendedby her party for the remarks.
The screenshot of the misleading tweet was shared on Facebook inSri Lanka,Bangladesh,andPakistan.
However, the claim is false.
The tweet was posted from the Twitter accountMoeen_Ali18, which has been suspended.
Anarchiveof the suspended account, retrieved from the Wayback Machine, shows its bio says "not official".
Jonathan Reed, the head of media and publications at the England and Wales Cricket Board, told AFP the account did not belong to the cricketer.
"This was a fake account. Moeen does not have any social media accounts," he said.
Ali’s officialprofileon the England Cricket Board website links to hisTwitter,FacebookandInstagramaccounts, but all three accounts are inactive.
As of June 16, there have been no reports of Ali threatening to boycott matches in India over comments made against the Prophet Mohammed.