United States: White House Correspondent Sabrina Siddiqui Harassed For Questioning India’s PM On Human Rights
The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with the renowned Wall Street Journal correspondent and condemns the attacks on her integrity.
Location: United States, Washington DC
Date: June 24, 2023
June 24, 2023, Washington DC, United States- Sabrina Siddiqui — a White House correspondent for the Wall Street Journal — questioned India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on concerns by various human rights organizations regarding discrimination against minority groups in the country during his recent trip to the United States. Siddiqui, the only journalist to ask questions during his White House visit, was subsequently attacked online by Modi’s party members, resulting in a mob of trolls harassing the reporter. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled at the blatant attacks on the acclaimed reporter and stresses that the intimidation of women journalists is part of a larger, organized process to stifle the free press and access to truthful information.
“It’s unacceptable and we absolutely condemn any harassment of journalists anywhere under any circumstances,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday about the attacks hurled at Siddiqui. “That’s just completely unacceptable and it’s antithetical to the very principles of democracy that were on display last week during the state visit.”
“It’s unacceptable and we absolutely condemn any harassment of journalists anywhere under any circumstances”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre added they are “committed to the freedom of the press, which is why we had the press conference last week.”
Siddiqui challenged Modi on what he and his administration intend to do to improve the rights of minority groups, including Muslims, and ensure freedom of speech. She raised this issue in the East Room of the White House, where many global leaders have pledged to protect democratic values.
Almost immediately, proponents of Hindutva and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly turned against Siddiqui on Twitter, accusing her of being a "Pakistani Islamist" and spreading unfounded conspiracy theories about her intentions behind the question. The tweet claimed that Siddiqui only focuses on criticizing India because "hate is in the DNA of Pakistanis (sic)." referring to the journalist's Muslim heritage and Pakistani roots.
Leading the charge in this ugly campaign of harassment and intimidation was none other than Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's IT cell, who wasted no time in denouncing Siddiqui's question as "motivated" and accused her of being part of a nefarious "toolkit gang."
OpIndia, a pro-BJP website, took the attacks on Siddiqui a step further by publishing a report suggesting that the journalist's question was "cleverly manufactured" and echoed the claims of Islamists and left-liberals, alleging persecution of Muslims in India. The article also highlighted Siddiqui's Pakistani heritage, stating that she is "the daughter of Pakistani parents."
Siddiqui is not the first to have been maliciously attacked in the US by an organized troll campaign for being Muslim. Similar groups of people have targeted Ilhan Omar on several occasions.
Modi’s Response
In response to Siddiqui’s question in the White House, Modi emphasized the importance of democracy in India and his government's commitment to ensuring equal treatment for all citizens regardless of their background.
Modi's remarks come amid ongoing concerns about discrimination against minority communities in India, particularly Muslims. Human rights groups have criticized Modi's government for handling several high-profile cases involving alleged religious discrimination.
More than 70 US Senate and House of Representatives members signed a letter on Tuesday, urging the Biden administration to address human rights concerns during talks with Modi. The legislators emphasized the importance of addressing issues such as religious freedom, the treatment of farmers and journalists, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Kashmir.
In addressing the online accusations labeling her as "anti-India," Siddiqui took to Twitter and shared a photo of herself and her India-born father cheering on the Indian cricket team to offer a more comprehensive portrayal.
"Sometimes identities are more complex than they seem," she tweeted.
Congress senior leader Digvijaya Singh took to Twitter and called on PM Modi to identify the individuals responsible for trolling the journalist in response to the abuse she received. Singh also commended Siddiqui, praising the journalist for her outstanding work.
“Like many South Asian and female journalists (Siddiqui) is experiencing harassment for simply doing her job”
“Like many South Asian and female journalists (Siddiqui) is experiencing harassment for simply doing her job,” the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) shared on Twitter.
SAJA’s president, Mythili Sampathkumar, added that Siddiqui had “asked a fair question,” which Modi should have expected considering the ongoing news regarding declining minority rights in the country.
The Wall Street Journal defended their journalist and called the harassment unacceptable. “The Wall Street Journal’s Sabrina Siddiqui is a respected journalist known for her integrity and unbiased reporting,” their statement reads. “This harassment of our reporter is unacceptable, and we strongly condemn it.”
The costs of reporting on India
On January 27th, reported that senior journalist Rana Ayyub was targeted with a barrage of rape and death threats in a misinformation campaign against her. Ayyub's solidarity with Yemen triggered the renewed wave of online violence and criticism of Saudi Arabia, resulting in her being labeled a "terrorist sympathizer." As a result, approximately 25,000 threatening Twitter posts were directed at her.
In July 2021, CFWIJ released an article on the disturbing website "Sulli Deals," which targeted Muslim women, including those in the news media industry. The website contained profiles of at least 90 women listed as "on sale." Men could then "bid" on these profiles to harass the women. The website was eventually taken down after public outrage.
In 2020, CFWIJ documented reports of attacks on multiple women journalists and numerous threats made towards women reporters covering the farmer protests on the ground. These incidents raised concerns about the safety and protection of women journalists in India and highlighted the ongoing issue of gender-based violence against women journalists in the country.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism voices solidarity with Sabrina Siddiqui and all women journalists who encounter reprisals and harassment due to their coverage of India. We denounce such strategies that erode Siddiqui's integrity as a journalist and sustain damaging prejudices against Muslims and Pakistanis. The deployment of such polarizing language exacerbates the pre-existing divisions in Indian society and intensifies the ongoing polarization. We reiterate the importance of remaining vigilant in safeguarding press freedom and the democratic principles that uphold it.
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.