Amnesty India says Zubair’s detention is a reminder that one is not allowed to speak the truth in India.
o Human rights group Amnesty India demands immediate release of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, saying debunking fake news is not a crime.
o The demand comes after Delhi Police arrested Zubair on Monday, based on an FIR filed by a man,alleging that Zubair hurt his religious sentiments.
Amnesty India has stated that Zubair’s enduring detention is a threatening reminder that one cannot speak the truth in India. Human rights organisation Amnesty India have demanded immediate and unconditional release of fact-checking website Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, asserting that debunking fake news is not a crime.
FIRs have been lodged against Zubair in Sitapur, Ghaziabad, Lakhimpur Kheri, Muzaffarnagar and Hathras districts of Uttar Pradesh on charges of hurting religious feelings, making insensitive remarks on news anchors, disrespecting Hindu gods, and putting out problematic posts. The Supreme Court on Monday directed that no hasty steps be taken against Zubair in connection with five FIRs.
Amnesty India said that Zubair’s continuing detention is a painful reminder that “you are not permitted to speak the truth in India”. They posted on Twitter stating that debunking fake news is not a crime and Zubair must be immediately and unconditionally released. #FreeZubair #ProtectDissent.
Mohammad Zubair happens to be the co-founder of fact-checking website Alt News, which he founded alongside former software engineer Pratik Sinha. Zubair and Sinha co-founded the Alt News website in 2017 to counter fake news.
Delhi Police on Monday arrested AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair, a few days after registering an FIR following up on a complaint by a man, who had been tagging Delhi Police on his social media account claiming that Zubair hurt his religious sentiments and demanding that legal action be taken against him.
An FIR under IPC Section 153-A, for promoting enmity between different groups and 295-A, for malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings was registered against him. It came after Zubair brought light to the comments made by now suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on Prophet Muhammad earlier this month, drawing ire from several countries.
