#IStandWithZubair Trending As Charges Slapped On Fact-Checker For Sharing Videos
After Ghaziabad Police on Wednesday charged Alt News co-founder and fact-checker, Mohammed Zubair, under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India, users on social media have started an online campaign in support of the journalist.
The police added fresh charges as the Allahabad High Court was hearing Zubair’s plea seeking to quash an FIR filed against the journalist for sharing video clips of a priest, Yati Narsinghanand. The FIR was filed on October 8 by the police on a complaint by Udita Tyagi, general secretary of the Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati Trust.
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Yati Narsinghanand found himself in trouble after he delivered an inflammatory speech against Prophet Muhammad at an event in Ghaziabad in September. Protests sparked across the country after the priest called for burning effigies of the Prophet, demanding action. Notably, Zubair shared the priest’s video clip on his X handle along with the previous controversial speeches delivered by Yati.
However, the Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati Trust chief, in its plea against the journalist, alleged that the old videos were shared with an intent to incite violence by the Muslim community. It also blamed the fact-checker for the protests held at Dasna Devi Mandi.
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Zubair’s post included video that showed Yati making the objectionable remark about the prophet. Another thread of his post showed the priest’s “vile comments about women in politics, especially BJP women leaders.”
As the police added additional charges against the journalist, many users on X have come up with the hashtag #IStandWithZubair, pointing out that reporting hate crime was not a crime. Nirjhari Sinha, director, Pravda Media Foundation, urged supporters of free speech, independent journalism, and fact-checking to continue standing with Zubair.
.@AltNews stands with @zoo_bear We urge all supporters of free speech, independent journalism, and fact-checking to continue standing with us in this fight. pic.twitter.com/E6GaJKjNxA
— Nirjhari Sinha (@NirjhariSinha) November 27, 2024
Another handle stated that Zubair is fighting Single handedly against BJP IT Cell, Fake News and Hateful Propaganda, and his maintenance depends on Donations from Public. “In return he is harassed every time by Govt and hindutva machinery, he was in Jail for a month. Mohammad Zubair has also played major role from behind the screen to defeat the hate propaganda,” the user wrote, urging people to recognise and support him.
#IStandWithZubair
Muhammad Zubair who is fighting Single handedly against BJP IT Cell, Fake News and Hateful Propaganda,
His maintenance depends on Donations from Public. In return he is harassed every time by Govt and hindutva machinery, he was in Jail for a month. Mohammad… pic.twitter.com/7uwGQFtIzx— Gabbar (@Gabbar0099) November 28, 2024
Zubair has maintained that his only aim was to inform the authorities about the priest’s statement for legal action, adding that it cannot be interpreted as promoting disharmony or violence. The journalist has argued that sharing publicly accessible videos of Yati’s comments does not constitute defamation, highlighting that the priest was already on bail for a separate hate speech case, with conditions barring him from making statements. He alleged the FIR was a malicious attempt to silence him.
