Renowned artist M F Husain became a citizen of Qatar, giving up on his Indian citizenship, after spending around four years in self-imposed exile on being targeted by Hindu fundamentalist groups for his paintings of Hindu deities. In 2006, the artist�s paintings were vandalised, his residence attacked and more than 900 cases filed against him, including a non-bailable arrest warrant.
Days before, the Indian government announced that most of the cases against the artist had been dropped and that he was free to return, assuring him protection. However, Husain has stated that successive governments in India had failed to ensure his protection.
The attacks on him were targeted against art and freedom of expression, he said.