Mohammed Zubair, a well-known fact-checker and co-founder of AltNews, finds himself in court once again as police in Uttar Pradesh seek his arrest over a controversial social media post. This case has sparked widespread concern regarding freedom of the press in India.
More than two years after being granted bail, Zubair faces serious charges for allegedly “endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.” If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence. These charges stem from his October 3 post on X, which highlighted hate speech by a controversial Hindu priest, Yati Narsinghanand.
Gaining notoriety for his outspoken criticism against hate crimes, Zubair claims he is being targeted for his efforts to expose hateful rhetoric. His report on Narsinghanand led to protests and police complaints but ultimately resulted in law enforcement acting against Zubair, rather than the source of the hate speech.
Zubair's legal team argues that the charges against him are politically motivated and point to the fact that many have shared Narsinghanand's remarks without facing repercussions. Critics of the case, including human rights organizations and fellow journalists, have condemned the decision to escalate charges against Zubair, calling it a form of harassment.
This ongoing legal battle raises alarm bells for press freedom in India, a country that has dropped significantly in global press freedom rankings – now sitting at 159 out of 180 countries. Advocates argue that the state is attempting to silence those who dare to challenge its narrative and hold it accountable, warning that Zubair's case is indicative of broader threats to freedom of expression in the country.
