While comedy can be polarizing all over the world, in India telling jokes about Hinduism or being associated with someone who insults the majority faith can be enough to prompt legal action.
This time last year Nalin Yadav was detained in an Indian prison, not knowing when he would be let out.
"I didn't understand how or why this happened to me," said the 26-year-old stand-up comedian, who spent almost two months behind bars."I couldn't sleep or eat. I had anxiety attacks. My mind wouldn't stop racing." His alleged crime? Organizing and opening a show for a comic he says he had met just five minutes earlier -- a Muslim comedian accused of telling jokes that insulted the Hindu faith.
The arrest of comedians is also affecting others in the industry.Some venues and organizers are canceling shows for fear of backlash and violence.The LVC Comedy Club in the southern state of Goa canceled Faruqui's performance in November after a right-wing group threatened to destroy the venue. A spokesperson for the club, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said the comedy scene in India was becoming"more hostile.
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