'Nadeem Khan & I Are Being Targeted Just For Exposing Hate': Mohd Zubair

"I didn't know how to tell my family as it would scare them. The added section in FIR is too much," says Zubair.

FIRs have been filed against Mohd Zubair and Nadeem Khan, respectively for documenting and calling out hate speech and crime.

(Photo: AI/The Quint)

"Even though I'm used to the pressure and intimidation, this time, I was shocked when I saw the charges added against me."

Mohammed Zubair, a prominent fact-checker and co-founder of AltNews, expressed his shock at the Uttar Pradesh police not just filing a case against him but also adding serious charges that amount to sedition.

While speaking to The Quint, Zubair recalled how he may have become accustomed to threats and complaints filed in the past, but the UP police on 26 November informed the Allahabad High Court that they added section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — “act endangering unity, sovereignty and integrity of India”, which carries life sentence or a prison term for up to seven years and a fine.

"This was alarming as 'endangering sovereignty' crosses the limits. I had only posted about Yati Narsinghanand which was done by many other handles before or even after me. But his Narsinghanand's supporters filed the case against me," Zubair told The Quint.

Notably, on 3 December, a Bench of Justices Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Prashant Kumar of Allahabad High Court recused from hearing a plea filed by Zubair seeking protection from arrest in the case.

The actions against Zubair cannot be seen in isolation. It coincides with the action by the Delhi Police against human rights activist Nadeem Khan, also the National Secretary of Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR).

Many say these are representative of a pattern of legal actions used to silence Muslim individuals who either document hate or who help victims impacted by hate crimes.

In this regard, The Quint has accessed the FIRs filed against both of them.

FIR filed in Delhi at 1 PM, Police Reached Bengaluru Home by 5 PM

In Khan's case, the Delhi Court on 3 December granted him interim protection from arrest till Friday. “Harmony of the nation isn’t so fragile," said the Court, as per LiveLaw.

In his case in particular, the police acted against him on the basis of an exhibition that was held in Hyderabad.

The exhibition was hosted by Jamaat-e-Islami as part of their National Members Conclave with the theme 'Justice and Equality' at Wadi-e-Huda Grounds in Pahadi Shareef.

The APCR had also set up stalls, providing information about the victims of hate crimes and the legal aid they've provided, human rights violations, lynchings and Supreme Court judgments on the same.

It also included videos of alleged communal remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

About the exhibition, the Delhi police alleged that, "Nadeem in the video says these are sensitive cases. Platforming them publicly, making a museum and a jail, putting photos of well known personalities and throwing allegations against them, victimises one community, can provoke people and give rise to separatist activities."

PUCL's statement condemning the action against Nadeem Khan.

PUCL's statement condemning the action against Nadeem Khan.

This FIR was filed at 12:48 PM on 30 November, however on the same day, the Delhi police quite swiftly reached a private residence where Khan was staying and attempted to detain him without a warrant or notice.

"It was only at 10:45, after 5:45 hours of badgering Nadeem, that the officials pasted a notice under Section 35 (3) of BNSS, asking him to appear at the Shaheen Bagh Police Station. For nearly six hours, they continued to harass and intimidate Nadeem Khan and members of his family, as well as trespass on the residence of his brother in Bangalore," alleged People's Union For Civil Liberties in a statement.

Zubair stated that this action against Khan is happening because somebody had made a video of the exhibition that went viral online.

Earlier too, conspiracy theories were circulated against Nadeem trying to cast doubts over their funding. They can't go after a whole organisation that easily. But it's easier to target him or me, as we're Muslim and because of the work that we do. With such complaints, they inculcate doubts in public's heads too. It's similar to how they're targeting me.

Mohd Zubair, Co-Founder, AltNews

'I Was Scared to Tell My Family At First': Zubair

The FIR filed against Zubair even ascribes blame on Zubair for inciting people through his tweets, alleging that "after Muslims reportedly attacked Dasna temple, he continued to post provocative tweets and inciting radical Muslims. To do this, an old video of Narsinghanand was shared. Earlier too, Zubair had shared edited slips of his speeches."

The complainant, Udita Tyagi went a step further and alleged that Zubair has "made a list of some BJP leaders who have been declared as anti-Islam and Muslim radicals are after them. These leaders include, Yogi Adityanath, Nand Kishore Gurjar and myself."

Countering these claims, Zubair said that he wasn't alone in drawing attention to Narsinghanand's speeches as many other X accounts, including that of local journalists have been doing the same.

The priest was also given bail on the condition that he won't give hate speeches again. "Hence, his videos triggered as to why isn't the police taking action against him then? He's accusing political leaders, badmouthing women, he should be held accountable," added Zubair.

Zubair is married and has three children. When he got to know about the charges, he couldn't wrap his head around breaking it to the family without exacerbating their fears.

Ya toh bheed ko khush karna hain or ya toh humara kaam target karna hain. (Either they want to the appease the crowd or target our work). It's to bring our morale down; attack him instead of his organisation. I didn't have it in me to tell to my family that these are serious charges. My lawyers helped in explaining to them.

Mohd Zubair, Co-Founder, AltNews

Zubair added that he has close to 12 FIRs against him, but in this new FIR, the additional section 152 of the BNS, has turned it into a more grave situation.

Offering solidarity to Zubair and calling out the FIR in his case, DIGIPUB, the Press Club of India and Reporters Without Borders have also called for the charges to be dropped.