DUJ Protests Targeting of Veteran Journalist Saba Naqvi

The Delhi Union of Journalists expresses its shock at the inclusion of Saba Naqvi in the list of 31 plus persons against whom the Delhi Police has filed FIRs. The FIRs follow the diplomatic row over the expelled BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's objectionable remarks on a Times Now debate.
 
Saba Naqvi is a veteran journalist known for her mature, balanced views expressed in TV debates and her writings.

Yet she stands accused under Section 153 (promoting enmity between different groups), 295 (deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class), and 505 (inducing to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility) of the Indian Penal Code, for a retweet of a meme. The tweet itself was retweeted by many people and shared on whatsapp in countless groups. Naqvi alone has been singled out for prosecution.
 
She has been named in the FIR alongside persons like Puja Shakun Pandey (who once posed shooting at a photograph of Mahatma Gandhi) of the Hindu Mahasabha and Maulana Mufti Nadeem (who threatened on video to chop off the hands of those who spoke against the Prophet). Lumping Naqvi with such offenders is inexplicable.
 
This is the second FIR filed against Naqvi. In 2021 an FIR was filed against her and other journalists for another retweet.
 
As a prominent Muslim woman journalist, Naqvi has repeatedly faced the wrath of trolls and mischiefmakers. In January this year she was one among the Muslim women in public life who were 'auctioned' on the Internet. Other journalists were also targetted in the demeaning 'Bulli Bai' online auction which displayed their photographs, with objectionable comments. The journalists included Arfa Khanum Sherwani and Ismat Ara.The latter filed a complaint with the police and investigation is ongoing.
 
The Delhi Union of Journalists calls for the immediate withdrawal of the charges against Naqvi and the police inquiries against her.
 
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.11:12 AM