Rashid Khan’s son cancels Bangladesh concert in protest, faces online backlash
Times of India | 27 December 2025
Kolkata: Vocalist Armaan Khan, son of Ustad Rashid Khan, faced severe backlash following the cancellation of his concert in Bangladesh. He said he was targeted by online trolls after expressing that true Islam promotes peace and does not condone the lynching of individuals from any religion.
In response to these attacks, Armaan addressed those who suggested he abandon Islam due to his involvement in music, which they labelled ‘haram'. He questioned why these critics, primarily from Bangladesh, do not direct similar criticisms towards renowned Muslim artistes from Pakistan but focus their attention on those from India.
Armaan expressed concern that he and his sisters were being targeted due to their family's background of inter-faith marriage. He said, "I have not read the Quran in its entirety but I'm confident no religion endorses lynching of individuals. It is my duty to protest, and I will do so."
The decision to cancel the concert in Bangladesh was a result of this protest. "I refuse to perform in a country where musical instruments are treated with disrespect. We revere our instruments. I do not need to perform in a country that disrespects what I hold sacred, which in this case is music. What is more troubling is the way I am being criticised for expressing this view. My parents had an inter-faith marriage. Are these attacks directed at me because my mother is Hindu?" he asked.
Addressing those who suggested he abandon his religion, he said, "They have the audacity to ask me to renounce Islam because music is allegedly considered ‘haram'. I challenge them by questioning why they do not make the same claims about the renowned Muslim artistes in Pakistan, like Ghulam Ali and Mehdi Hasan? If music is ‘haram', why are qawwalis performed at dargahs? I will not accept such distortions without response. People cannot distort facts without consequence."
Armaan also urged all Indian musicians to protest against the current situation in Bangladesh. "Do not perform there. Let this be a statement. No one should feel so insecure about potential backlash that they accept the disrespect shown to our music. Don't think about the monetary loss or the fans you lose for being honest. If you have skill, you will get concerts elsewhere and be able to perform. We owe it to our music to speak out now," he declared.