Social media users have come out in support of Mohammed Zubair posting solidarity messages on Twitter. Hashtag #IStandwithZubair is trending on the X platform (formerly Twitter)
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A First Information Report (FIR) was filed against prominent fact-checker and Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair on Monday for posting the recent video of a teacher instigating students to slap a Muslim boy at a school in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district.
Several tweets on the incident at Neha Public School in Khabbupur village have also been withheld following government instructions.
The FIR against Zubair was filed at the Mansoorpur police station under Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act on a complaint from one Vishnu Dutt. It only mentions the name of Zubair, who is often targeted by Hindutva supporters for fact-checking and repudiating a number of their videos espousing their cause.
The slapgate video has been posted and shared by a large number of social media users including prominent personalities.
Talking about the FIR to The Indian Express, Zubair said: “I did not receive any notice or call from the police. It was through social media that I found that an FIR had been lodged against me. I was checking the FIR and it does not have any other names. Why was only my name put there? There were several media outlets that posted the video before and after me”.
“I later removed the video after I was told that I was disclosing the minor’s identity. This has happened to me before in 2020 as well. I was targeted… This shows the police can target anyone,” he said.
Meanwhile, social media users have come out in support of Zubair posting solidarity messages on Twitter. Hashtag #IStandwithZubair is trending on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
“Zubair has shown us a path where lies can be countered, fake narratives can be punctured, hatemongers can be exposed, and where the possibility of a better future for all of us exists. This is why he’s singled out and hounded and this is exactly why we must defend him,” tweeted journalist Alishan Jafri.
Another journalist, Perth, said: “Zubair has been charged with the juvenile justice act for sharing a video that other news channels and Twitter users also shared. While the teacher who actually got the Muslim boy thrashed is charged with non-cognisable offences. Slow clap, UP Police”.
Earlier, a number of tweets including that of Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar were withheld by the X on the demand from the Central government. All these tweets contain reactions to the incident at Muzaffarnagar school.
The withheld tweet of Matondkar says “This woman is seriously sick and mentally unstable. Such people should not be allowed around children. Let alone being a teacher. #ArrestTriptaTyagi”.
When the tweet was withheld, Matondkar slammed the X seeking clarification over the action.
“Hello @X @TwitterIndia, May I kindly know why exactly my tweet has been upheld? Neither the language nor the thought behind it is derogatory towards anyone. I’m not spreading any fake news like most others. So is it plain pressure from the establishment?” she tweeted.
Besides, there were several prominent people whose tweet was withheld.
Digital rights group Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) slammed the government for asking to withhold the tweets.
“First, there is an alarming trend emerging when news of such incidents breaks. Instead of addressing the issue at hand, there is a tendency to resort to censorship. This raises concerns about the authorities’ priorities and approach to handling such situations. Second, prima facie, the tweets withheld don’t appear to meet the threshold laid out under Section 69A of the IT Act – the provision that empowers the government to block content on grounds like national security or public order,” said IFF in a series of tweets.
