Mon Dec 09 21:50:00 UTC 2024: ## International Groups Condemn Case Against Indian Fact-Checker on Human Rights Day
**New Delhi, December 10, 2024** – On the eve of Human Rights Day, a coalition of prominent international human rights organizations issued a strong condemnation of the ongoing legal case against Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of the Indian fact-checking website Alt News. The letter, signed by groups including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, denounced the Ghaziabad police’s criminal charges against Zubair stemming from a social media post criticizing a speech by controversial religious leader Yati Narsinghanand.
The organizations highlight a pattern of targeting Zubair for his fact-checking work and use of social media. They cite his previous arrests in 2022, resulting in multiple FIRs and a 24-day cycle of arrest and release before the Supreme Court granted him bail. Zubair’s commitment to media freedom was recognized with the Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression award in 2023.
The letter points to a broader trend in India, citing reports that 13,000 individuals, including journalists and social media users, faced sedition charges between 2010 and 2021. The latest FIR against Zubair involves seven legal provisions, including sections of the Information Technology Act and the newly revised Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Zubair has filed a petition for interim bail and dismissal of the charges, but the Allahabad High Court recused itself from the case on December 3rd, delaying further proceedings.
The international organizations are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the FIR against Mr. Zubair and urging the Indian government to uphold freedom of expression. The case underscores growing concerns about the shrinking space for critical journalism and free speech in India.
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