Mohammed Zubair, known for his influential work as a fact-checker and co-founder of the website AltNews, has returned to court more than two years after being granted bail by the Supreme Court. This time, the Allahabad High Court conducted a brief hearing on a petition filed by Zubair, who is facing fresh charges by police in Uttar Pradesh that could lead to a lengthy prison sentence. Zubair stands accused of “endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India,” a charge that is non-bailable and could result in severe punishment.
Zubair, who denies all accusations, claims he is being unfairly targeted due to his relentless efforts to expose hate speech in India. His latest legal trouble originated from a post he shared on X (formerly Twitter) on October 3, which highlighted derogatory remarks made by Hindu priest Yati Narsinghanand against the Prophet Muhammad. Narsinghanand, a figure known for his controversial and violent rhetoric against Muslims, had previously faced legal issues for his Islamophobic comments.
Following Zubair's post, protests erupted outside Narsinghanand's temple, culminating in arrests stemming from reported violence. In reaction, police began a case against Zubair after receiving a complaint from a politician associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and an ally of Narsinghanand. Initially facing lesser charges, Zubair found himself confronted with more serious allegations when police invoked a heavy-handed legal code against him, suggesting an intent to criminalize his reporting.
Critics, including Zubair himself, argue that the case reflects a broader trend of governmental oppression against journalists in India, particularly those who challenge the narrative set by the state. Pratik Sinha, Zubair’s colleague and fellow co-founder of AltNews, contends that this is indicative of the government’s attempts to silence dissenting voices within the media, describing it as a “witch-hunt.”
Rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have denounced this move as an attack on free speech. They describe the invocation of the new law as a “modern version” of colonial-era sedition legislation that threatens the safety and freedom of journalists and activists. The Press Club of India has voiced its opposition to the escalating legal actions against Zubair, arguing that they undermine the crucial role of the media in a democratic society.
Zubair's previous arrest in 2022 and the accusations against him for a 2018 tweet sparked widespread criticism, both domestically and internationally. Authorities’ actions against him have drawn attention from human rights advocates, who assert that journalists should not face jail time for their reporting. Despite the government's denials of any bias in its actions against journalists, India's ranking on the Global Press Freedom index continues to plummet, a stark representation of the challenges faced by those advocating for accountability and transparency in governance.
