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.
Indian Fact-Checker Mohammed Zubair Faces Renewed Legal Challenges
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.
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.
