India: Journalist Saba Naqvi Booked For “Inciting Violence” As BJP Clamps Down On Protests Against Anti-Muslim Rhetoric

Threats
Written By 
Location: India, New Delhi  
Date: June 15, 2022

The Delhi Police have booked journalist Saba Naqvi on allegations of “inciting violence” amid diplomatic backlash against now suspended ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson’s recent incendiary remarks against Prophet Muhammad. She is named in an FIR along with 31 others, including public figures who openly resort to hate speech for political gains for retweeting (and deleting shortly after) a viral meme. The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Saba and denounces the police proceedings against her. It is apparent that as a prominent Muslim journalist Saba is being singled out and targetted for her work.

On June 8, 2022, three days after BJP suspended its spokesperson Nurpur Sharma and its Delhi media unit head Naveen Jindal following unprecedented diplomatic backlash for their offensive remarks, police booked Saba on three counts. The journalist was charged under Sections 153, 259 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code on accusations of “promoting enmity between different groups”, committing “deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class” and “inducing to commit an offense against the state or against public tranquility”, respectively. The police base their claims against Saba on a viral meme she retweeted and then deleted shortly after.  

“I am shocked to learn that my name has been included in an FIR registered by Delhi Police under various sections of the IPC. I am a journalist and tasked with speaking truth to power. Social media and news sites suggest the FIR has been filed because of a WhatsApp forward that I shared only to delete it a few hours later. Many others also shared the same image yet I have been selectively targeted in the FIR,” said Saba in a statement to local news outlet The Wire. 

Saba is the former political editor of the Indian independent magazine Outlook, a frequent contributor in leading local dailies, a prominent columnist, political analyst and author of three books. She is named in the FIR along with Jindal, another BJP leader who endorsed the former’s remarks, a militant Hindutva priest and a Muslim leader who has threatened violence against those speak against Prophet Muhammad. 

“I am committed to the secular and liberal ethos of India and stand against any fundamentalism, hate speech and injustice. I am currently out of India and will comply with due process on my return in mid-July,” she told local media after the FIR came to light. 

As a prominent Muslim journalist, this is not the first time that she is being targeted by the right-wing Hindu nationalist BJP government. In 2021, she was named in an FIR along with veteran journalist Rana Ayyub and other media workers over another retweet, the CFWIJ reported at the time. In January this year, she was among over 90 public figures profiled for “auction” on an online platform “Bulli Bai” where Hindu men “bid” on Muslim women to sexually harass them. This is apart from routine online hate and organized troll attacks she faces for her work and religion. 

The Delhi Police’s move to include Saba in an FIR against those inciting religious hatred for political gains was met with widespread condemnation from journalistic corners. In separate statements, the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ), South Asian Women In Media (India), the Indian Women’s Press Corps and international press freedom organizations, among others, called for the immediate withdrawal of the FIR. 

“We condemn the increasing tendency to file criminal cases against journalists for their reportage and comments in the media. The list of those who face such charges is long and growing which bodes ill for democracy and free speech,” said the DUJ in a statement condemning the FIR “targeting” a veteran journalist.

 

“It appears that select people are being targeted for their views which is very unfortunate. Time and again, we have seen that it leads to undue harassment of individuals on a subjective basis.” noted the Indian Women’s Press Corps in their statement demanding immediate withdrawal of FIR against Saba. 

 

It does not go amiss that the police action against Saba comes amid excessive state overreaches reported in India as the authorities clamp down on countrywide protests against the BJP leaders’ hateful rhetoric. After suspending the responsible spokespersons two weeks after they made the comments following diplomatic pressure, the notoriously pro-Hindutva BJP government has retaliated violently against local Muslim protestors as witnessed in the case of activist Afreen Fatima, whose family was detained and house illegally demolished. 

Other noted Muslim journalists also report a rise in online hate and state-linked harassment in the aftermath of BJP spokespersons’ suspensions from the party. 

Rana, who has been on the receiving end of state-backed violence and harassment ever since the BJP's ascent to power in the country, took to Twitter to share evidence of increased online attacks she is facing. “I will keep posting the threats. I will keep tagging [National Commission For Women (India)], [Mumbai Police] irrespective of their silence. In the last ten days, I have been getting more than a thousand such messages in a day.” 

 

the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government and is known for her investigative reports on communal violence in India. For this reason, she is often targeted by the state and BJP supporters both online and offline. The journalist has braved disinformation campaigns, legal harassment, organized online trolling, among other violations including a federal investigation into a fund she launched for Covid-19 relief. Find the CFWIJ’s timeline of attacks on Rana here and our detailed coverage of violations against women journalists in India here.  

“Each time you write a critical piece, speak up, a crisp white envelope arrives home. Dear sarkaar [government], on a scale of 1 to 10, how predictable are you?” wrote Rana on Twitter, responding to escalating state-backed persecution for her coverage of recent police violence against protesting Muslims. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns the targeting of Muslim women journalists in India. We stand in solidarity with Saba Naqvi, Rana Ayyub and other colleagues in the country braving state-sponsored persecution for their profession, gender and religion. We call for the immediate withdrawal of the FIR against Saba. It is apparent that by targeting Muslim journalists the right-wing Hindu nationalist BJP government aims to further silence marginalized religious voices in the media and public sphere. We have covered the rise in violations against the independent press in India extensively and register strong protest against state overreaches against journalists. Know more about how this silencing enables further violence against religious minorities in the country here. Journalists must feel safe to report freely on matters of public interest and hold power to account without fear of state retaliation!  

 

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.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.

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