Location: India, Mumbai
Date: March 30, 2022

*This report was updated on April 4, 2022.

Journalist Rana Ayyub was briefly detained at the Mumbai airport and restricted from traveling to London, where she was scheduled to speak on intimidation faced by journalists at an event organized by the International Center for Journalists. After her visit to the United Kingdom, Rana was then scheduled to fly to Italy to deliver the keynote address at the International Journalism Festival. This arbitrary travel restriction is in line with the history of intimidation tactics that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing government has used against the journalist.

On March 29, 2022, Rana took to Twitter to report that she was barred from flying by the immigration office because the Indian financial investigative agency Enforcement Directorate has summoned her in connection with a “money laundering investigation” the state has opened against her. Rana questioned why this intervention was not made earlier when the events and her travel plans were publicized. The journalist further clarified that she has shared all relevant documents with the directorate.

The journalist has since registered a case against the Immigration office for restricting her mobility. Rana is facing a money-laundering investigation over a fund-raising campaign she started to provide food and other relief to citizens struggling because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The case against Rana is based on a first information report (FIR) filed by Uttar Pradesh Police in September 2021. The FIR lodged on the complaint of a Hindutva group, namely the Hindu IT Cell, alleges that the journalist illegally collected money “in the name of charity” and received foreign funds without government approval. 

A fearless reporter and staunch critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Modi government, this is not the first time Rana has been subjected to such harassment by state offices. The Washington Post correspondent has been routinely targeted via legal and extrajudicial means due to her work. The international press recognized the incident on March 29 for what it is - targeted intimidation of a journalist critical of state policies - and support poured in for Rana from around the world. 

Just three months into this year, she has been repeatedly harangued by state offices as well as supporters of the BJP in online as well as physical spaces. In January, Rana was hit with a barrage of rape and death threats as yet another slander and misinformation campaign was launched against her. Then in February, the Enforcement Directorate initiated a fiscal probe against journalist Rana Ayyub, alleging that she misused the donations collected for Covid-19 relief through the Indian crowdfunding platform, Ketto. On February 10, the directorate announced that it has launched an investigation into Rana Ayyub concerning INR 17.7 million worth of bank deposits, despite Rana clarifying the issue several times. 

On April 4, 2022, ruling on Rana’s appeal, the Delhi High Court overturned the restrictions imposed by the Enforcement Directorate and allowed the journalist to fly abroad. The court directed Rana to deposit some money and inform the government agencies of her travel and contact details, local news reported. The Coalition For Women In Journalism supports the court’s decision and congratulates Rana on this win. However, we reiterate that the graft case against Rana must swiftly be dismissed and all state-endorsed harassment of the senior journalist must end. Courageous journalism should be rewarded not criminalized.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism has consistently covered the attacks and threats faced by Rana Ayyub and the insidious ways in which such violations have found support from state institutions. This is an extremely worrying trend and a threat to press freedom in the country. We condemn this latest attempt to restrict Rana’s mobility and demand an end to this state-endorsed harassment of a journalist for expressing her criticism of the right-wing policies of the incumbent government.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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