The Delhi Police arrested Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of fact-checking website AltNews, on charges of allegedly hurting religious sentiments referring to a tweet from 2018.
What is the case of Zubair’s arrest?
Mohammad Zubair is the co-founder of fact-checking website AltNews that was established in 2017 to combat fake news.
It was after Zubair highlighted comments made by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on the Prophet that the central government had found itself in a diplomatic row.
Earlier this month, an FIR was lodged in Uttar Pradesh against Zubair for allegedly hurting religious sentiments on Twitter.
In 2020, Delhi Police had booked Zubair in a POCSO case referring to a tweet shared by Zubair on the basis of a complaint filed by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
At present, it was alleged that Zubair had tweeted a questionable image with a purpose to deliberately insult the god of a particular religion for which he was arrested.
According to media reports, Zubair has been charged under the Indian Penal Code
Section 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot—if rioting be committed—if not committed)
Section 295A (Outraging religious feelings of any class)
What message does Zubair’s arrest send?
Revenge- The arrest unleashes a politics of revenge in the wake of the international humiliation that the government faced in the Nupur Sharma case.
Free speech- The arrest aims to curb the free speech conferred under Article 19 of the Indian Constituition.
Selective targeting- The government is selective in who it targets using Section 153 of the IPC.
Fear of majoritarianism- The selectivity underscores the point that the majority can act with impunity and privilege.
Arbitrariness- This arrest has to be seen as part of the larger pattern of arbitrariness and repression.
Democratic barbarism- It is a politics that sees protest, dissent, and freedom of expression all through the prism of potential enemies of the state.
What is the response for Zubair’s arrest?
Condemnation has poured in from journalists, opposition politicians, journalists’ organisations both global and national, over Zubair’s arrest.
Most highlighted the role played by Zubair and Alt News in tackling disinformation in the last few years.
In response to the arrest of AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubai, a spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres said that journalists should not be jailed for what they write, tweet and say.
