By Arré Bench Sep. 07, 2020
Two FIRs have been lodged against Mohammed Zubair under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act for the alleged “online harassment and torture” of a minor girl. But the fact-checking website has said that this is nothing but an attempt to hound its co-founder.
Given the number of opinions flying around social media these days, it’s only natural that a few arguments break out on timelines, especially over political disagreements. One particular spat from last month, however, has now escalated into a police case, with two FIRs filed against Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of fact-checking website AltNews.
The police action was initiated following a complaint by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which accused Zubair of “threatening and torturing a girl child through Twitter”, The Indian Express reported.
It refers to a post from last month, in which Zubair had responded to an abusive tweet from Twitter user Jagdish Singh. In his post, the fact-checker reposted Singh’s profile picture, which featured a young girl, but with the face blurred out.
“Hello Jagdish Singh,” he had posted. “Does your cute grand daughter know about your part time job of abusing people on social media? I suggest you change your profile pic.”
According to the ATR received in @NCPCR_ ,an FIR has been lodged against the alleged persons for threatening and torturing a girl child on @Twitter.
As per the request made by @TwitterIndia an additional time of 10 days has been provided to them to provide relevant information. pic.twitter.com/RLhXvzBUs8
— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) September 5, 2020
In response to the tweet, the NCPCR had written to the Delhi deputy commissioner of the police, as well as the cyber cell in August, and had accused Zubair of “stalking a minor girl on Twitter”, reports said. Two other handles had posted comments on the picture, earning them a place in the two FIRs filed in Delhi on Saturday.
Zubair, meanwhile, has countered the allegations, calling the FIR “absolutely frivolous”, and indicating that he was considering taking legal action against the commission.
The news of the two FIRs also created a mini storm on Twitter, with several prominent journalists and public figures taking umbrage, and tweeting with the hashtag “IStandWithZubair”.
Fellow co-founder of AltNews, Pratik Sinha released a statement on Twitter standing by his colleague, and alleging that the FIRs were an attempt to hound Zubair through the misuse of legal apparatus.
Alt News stands by Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear). pic.twitter.com/08ezUdBqII
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) September 6, 2020
It must be noted that NCPCR commission headed by @KanoongoPriyank has acted against @zoo_bear on basis of a bogus complaint by @JSINGH2252. Who is this @JSINGH2252? Here’s a preview into the vulgar mindset of this person. Is the establishment a voice for such people now? pic.twitter.com/aPfunXHBfq
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) September 6, 2020
Several others alleged that it was the nature of Zubair’s work — as a fact checker — that made him a target in this case.
There is no doxxing because the picture was publicly available on the profile of the person to him Zubair was speaking to + He blurred the image.
There is no such thing as “torture on Twitter”.
Registering baseless FIR itself is an infringement of rights.#IStandWithZubair
— Sanjukta Basu (@sanjukta) September 6, 2020
I am late to this but I have been impressed by how much fake news and hate speech/acts @zoo_bear has brought to light. His work (and name) makes him a target. But it is gratifying to see the outpouring of support for Zubair here. #IStandWithZubair
— Salman Anees Soz (@SalmanSoz) September 7, 2020
Solidarity with @zoo_bear @AltNews who are being intimidated for speaking truth to power, for busting fake news that attempts to change the narrative of the truth in India.
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) September 7, 2020
Goes without saying the work @free_thinker and @zoo_bear are doing @AltNews to bust fake news in India is bound to terrify those operating propaganda machinery to spread the fog of disinformation. We don’t need a stronger reason today to support them unequivocally.
— Jairaj Singh (@JairajSinghR) September 7, 2020
#IStandWithZubair and @AltNews
The harassment will only stop when we speak up for each other. https://t.co/0dnQYoM8x5
— Faye DSouza (@fayedsouza) September 7, 2020
A few noted that despite us living in a country where it is a task to get the police to file an FIR in actual harassment cases, the two FIRs against a seemingly harmless tweet were filed with relative ease.
It is so difficult for a woman getting r@pe threats to file FIR but @zoo_bear gets 2FIRs because he rattled entire RW scum pool with his fact checks. Also how dare a Muslim guy do it. More power to Zubair and we will stand with him and against that tharki pos #IStandWithZubair
— پربھا (@deepsealioness) September 7, 2020
As the outrage continues online, however, the police will continue to investigate on the basis of the NCPCR complaint. With Twitter India officials already appearing before the commission, chances are that this controversy will not die down as quickly as it began.
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