Mohammed Zubair was asked to give testimony in a 2020 case involving the circulation of a picture of a young child with her face pixelated. However, he was detained in connection with a 2018 tweet that disparaged a god.
The Delhi Police’s cyber squad detained Mohammed Zubair, a co-founder of the fact-checking website Alt News, on Monday for inciting hatred and hurting religious feelings. He spent the day in police custody.
Who is Mohammed Zubair?
Mohammad Zubair, alongside former IT developer Pratik Sinha, launched the fact-checking website Alt News. To tackle fake news, Zubair and Sinha established the Alt News website in 2017.
Right-wing trolls frequently target Zubair for fact-checking false information that circulates on social media and occasionally makes it to publications and news outlets.
Why was Zubair arrested?
An FIR was filed on a complaint from Bhagwan Sharan, the Sitapur unit chief of the Hindu Sher Sena.
The complainant claimed the 39-year-old Muslim journalist had intentionally insulted a certain religion’s deity by tweeting a “questionable” image, in March 2018, according to authorities, which is the basis of the case against Zubair.
Before 2014 : Honeymoon Hotel
After 2014 : Hanuman Hotel. #SanskaariHotel pic.twitter.com/1ri5i3IXy8— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) March 23, 2018
Sub-Inspector Arun Kumar of the Delhi Police has filed the FIR. According to the policeman, he was monitoring social media when he saw a post from a user with the username “Hanuman Bhakt” complaining to Zubair’s message.
“Linking our God Hanuman ji with honeymoon is a blatant disrespect of Hindus because he is brahmchari,” the Twitter user remarked in a screenshot that was released. Please take action against this individual @delhipolice,” read a tweet from Delhi Police.
Suman Nalwa, a spokeswoman for the Delhi Police, confirmed Zubair’s arrest to Al Jazeera and stated that the Indian Penal Code’s Sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 153 (giving provocation with intent to cause a riot) have been invoked against the journalist.
Zubair was reportedly sought for interrogation in a 2020 case for which he already has protection from the Delhi High Court, according to Zubair’s coworker at Alt News, Pratik Sinha. He was detained, nonetheless, in another circumstance.
Zubair declined to respond to questions about the FIR, but Alt News’ editor-in-chief Pratik Sinha claimed it was an obvious case of “selective targeting.”
Please note. pic.twitter.com/gMmassggbx
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) June 27, 2022
What Was The 2020 Case?
After receiving a report from the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, the Delhi Police had arrested Zubair in August 2020 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO) (NCPCR). It made reference to a tweet Zubair had posted that included a picture of a young girl whose face had been blurred after an online argument with her father.
The NCPCR filed a complaint with the Delhi High Court, claiming that Twitter’s refusal to remove the post constituted a violation of numerous laws. However, the court had ordered the police to refrain from using coercion against Zubair in that case. Additionally, it requested that the Delhi Police submit an updated status report on the current investigation.
Since the arrest, support has been pouring in for Mohammed Zubair.
Moreover, the arrest of Zubair was described as âextremely disturbingâ by the Editors Guild of India. They urged his immediate release.
âIt is apparent that Alt Newsâ alert vigilance was resented by those who use disinformation as a tool to polarise society and rake nationalist sentiments,â the Guild said in a statement in New Delhi.
Earlier, a group of online news outlets had also denounced Mr. Zubair’s detention and demanded that the Delhi Police quickly drop their charges against him.
“It is unjustifiable that such strict laws are being used as tools against journalists, who have been accorded the role of playing watchdog against the misuse of institutions of the state,” a DIGIPUB statement said. “In a democracy, where every individual possesses the right to exercise the freedom of speech and expression.â
Twitter Reactions To Zubairâs Arrest
The hashtag #IStandWithZubair has been flooding the platform and many verified names have also come out with their stance.
Srinivas BV, National President of the Indian Youth Congress, questions Delhi Police, âAny update on Komal Sharma?â
Hello @DelhiPolice
Any update on Komal Sharma?#IStandWithZubair pic.twitter.com/qHEvNQxeLV— Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) June 27, 2022
Political party, Rashtriya Ulama Council (RUC), tweeted:
Zubair is not even a political activist but a journalist & a fact checker who has been exposing fake news & propaganda. He's paying the price of bringing forward the truth that makes the government of the day uncomfortable. He should be released immediately.#IStandWithZubair https://t.co/o32GxWVg0r
— Rashtriya Ulama Council (RUC) (@RUConline) June 27, 2022
Indian activist, Yogendra Yadav, tweeted the perspective of journalism saying:
Journalism is publishing what someone powerful does not want published; everything else is public relations.
(George Orwell, edited)#IStandWithZubair pic.twitter.com/zvpyFDXvjZ— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) June 27, 2022
Rashtriya Janata Dal also expressed their condemnation:
Shame on you @DelhiPolice #IStandWithZubair
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) June 27, 2022
The Quint journalist, Fatima Khan, on Twitter said:
Zubair is the finest journalist of our times. Hanging my head in shame, and rage. #IStandWithZubair
— Fatima Khan (@khanthefatima) June 27, 2022
There exists a fan club for Zubair which came out to post a meme with respect to the case:
This is the real reason for the arrest#IStandWithZubair pic.twitter.com/Ia53p5UZnB
— Muhammad Zubair Fans Club (@ZubairFansClub) June 27, 2022
Furthermore, opposition party, Congress, also came out in support for Zubair. Rahul Gandhi tweeted with the #DaroMat:
Every person exposing BJP's hate, bigotry and lies is a threat to them.
Arresting one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more.
Truth ALWAYS triumphs over tyranny. #DaroMat pic.twitter.com/hIUuxfvq6s
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 27, 2022
Zubair continues to receive support through the trending hashtag on Twitter and even otherwise, as they demand for his release while slamming the Delhi Police.
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