Indian Fact-Checker Mohammed Zubair Faces Renewed Legal Challenges

Sat Mar 15 2025 08:20:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)
Indian Fact-Checker Mohammed Zubair Faces Renewed Legal Challenges

Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of AltNews, is back in court as police seek his arrest over allegations linked to his fact-checking work spotlighting hate speech.


After two years of legal battles, prominent Indian journalist Mohammed Zubair is facing new charges, accused of threatening India's integrity due to his exposes of hate speech. Critics argue this is an attack on press freedom as Zubair maintains his innocence.


Mohammed Zubair, a prominent fact-checker in India and co-founder of the AltNews platform, is once again in court, facing fresh legal troubles related to his work highlighting hate speech. Two years after the Supreme Court ordered his release from prison, he has been summoned by police in Uttar Pradesh, accused of “endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.” If found guilty, these charges could result in severe penalties, including long prison terms or hefty fines.

Zubair denies these allegations, claiming they are a targeted attack due to his journalism. "I feel I’m being targeted because of the work I do," he stated. His recent legal predicament stems from a post he shared on X, where he criticized comments made by Yati Narsinghanand, a Hindu priest infamous for inciting violence against Muslims. This post, which included a clip of Narsinghanand's remarks deemed offensive by many, incited protests and demands for action against Zubair.

The case against Zubair gains traction following complaints from supporters of Narsinghanand, leading to the police filing expanded charges under Section 152 of India’s new penal code, a move interpreted by legal experts as a method to facilitate Zubair's arrest. His defense emphasizes that he is not the sole broadcaster of Narsinghanand’s hate speech. “This is an attempt to gag people trying to hold the government to account,” Zubair asserted.

Supporters have criticized the judiciary's actions as retaliatory, alleging that they reflect ongoing government efforts to silence dissent. Activists and rights organizations argue that such legal tactics represent a revival of colonial-era sedition laws, aimed specifically at curbing freedom of expression. Amnesty International labeled the situation as symptomatic of a broader trend aimed at persecuting journalists and activists voicing criticism towards the governing administration.

Stakeholders in the media industry echo similar sentiments. Many condemn the renewed charges against Zubair, asserting that they epitomize a systematic crackdown on independent journalism in India. Reporters Without Borders has documented an alarming decline in press freedom in the country, ranking it 159th out of 180 nations.

Zubair's plight follows a series of events geared towards intimidating journalists who question governmental policies and actions. With the public's eyes firmly on this case, it highlights the precarious state of press freedom in India and the ongoing battle faced by those who dare to document the truth.

MORE ON THEME

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 01:36:13 GMT

Syria's Interim President Signs New Constitution Amidst Ongoing Challenges

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 01:36:13 GMT
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 13:34:27 GMT

**Duterte Departures: Ex-President Faces ICC Over Drug War Atrocities**

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 13:34:27 GMT
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 07:21:49 GMT

Abortion Rights Under Siege: New Legislation Could Criminalize Women

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 07:21:49 GMT
Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:29:23 GMT

Indonesian TikToker Jailed for Blasphemy After Remarks About Jesus' Hair

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:29:23 GMT
Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:10:35 GMT

TikToker Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Jail for Blasphemy in Indonesia

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:10:35 GMT
Wed, 05 Mar 2025 10:45:45 GMT

Fact-Checking Trump's Congressional Address: Misleading Claims and Statistics

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 10:45:45 GMT
Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:52:39 GMT

Online Hate Targeting Victims' Families of Jeju Air Crash Raises Alarm in South Korea

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:52:39 GMT
Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:32:51 GMT

Brazil's Film "I'm Still Here" Reignites Justice Debate for Dictatorship Atrocities

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:32:51 GMT
Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:17:07 GMT

Thailand's Controversial Deportation of Uyghurs Sparks Global Outcry

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:17:07 GMT
Thu, 27 Feb 2025 13:14:26 GMT

Trump Administration's Foreign Aid Freeze Extended by Supreme Court

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 13:14:26 GMT
Thu, 27 Feb 2025 11:35:48 GMT

Trump Administration's Foreign Aid Freeze to Remain in Effect, Chief Justice Rules

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 11:35:48 GMT
Thu, 27 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

Thailand Repatriates Uyghurs Amid International Outcry

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT
Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:23:12 GMT

**Syria's Comedians Embrace Newfound Freedom Amidst Uncertainty**

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:23:12 GMT
Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:53:09 GMT

Leaked Audio Reveals Inconsistent Accounts in Greek Migrant Boat Tragedy

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:53:09 GMT
Wed, 26 Feb 2025 03:29:33 GMT

White House Seizes Control Over Trump Press Pool, Sparking Controversy

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 03:29:33 GMT
Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:43:37 GMT

Supreme Court Grants New Trial to Richard Glossip, Oklahoma Death Row Inmate

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:43:37 GMT
Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:59:25 GMT

Azerbaijan Shuts Down BBC News Azerbaijani Operations in Baku

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:59:25 GMT
Thu, 20 Feb 2025 01:34:56 GMT

**Bolsonaro Accused of Coup Attempt by Brazil's Chief Prosecutor**

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 01:34:56 GMT
Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:16:13 GMT

Controversy Erupts Over YouTuber's Disturbing Comments in India

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:16:13 GMT
Wed, 19 Feb 2025 03:34:12 GMT

Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro Faces Charges for Alleged Coup Attempt

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 03:34:12 GMT

Follow us

© 2024 SwissX REDD UK ltd. All Rights Reserved.