Were ISIS Flags Raised in Meerut? No, Media Outlets Got It Wrong
BJP leaders had allegedly complained to the police that ISIS flags were waved during the protest march.
CLAIM
Hindi media house Hindustan, which is a part of the Hindustan Times Group, reported on 1 July, the protest rally that was held in Meerut on 30 June for the victim of Jharkhand’s mob lynching, Tabrez Ansari.
The article is headlined as ‘आईएसआईएस के झंडे भी लहराए गए ! ‘ (Translated: ISIS flags were also raised!). While the headline mentions that ISIS flags were raised, the text says that BJP leaders had allegedly complained to the police that ISIS flags were waved during the protest march.
Though this headline can be seen in the e-paper version, the online version of the title ends with a question mark, ‘आईएसआईएस के झंडे भी लहराए गए?’ ( Translated: Were ISIS flags also raised?).
While the Meerut edition mentions ISIS flags being raised, the Lucknow edition of the same newspaper has mentioned ‘आईएसआईएस के झंडे लहराने का भाजपा ने लगाया आरोप’ (Translated: ISIS flags were waved, complains BJP).
OpIndia, a right-wing website that has spread fake news in the past, published an article headlined:‘तबरेज को मिले शहीद का दर्जा’: विरोध के नाम पर मेरठ में हज़ारों उपद्रवियों का कहर, लहराए ISIS के झंडे’ (Translated: 'Tabrez should get martyr status': urged thousands of people by protesting in Meerut, waved ISIS flags).
An article published on Breaking Tube’s website carried a similar headline and was titled: ‘मेरठ: तबरेज की मौत के विरोध में बिना अनुमति निकाला जुलूस, सीओ-इंस्पेक्टर को उपद्रवियों ने दौड़ा-दौड़ाकर पीटा, ISIS के झंडे भी फहराए’ (Translated: Meerut: Protesting over Tabrez’s death, procession taken out without approval, CO-Inspector were beaten by people, ISIS flags were also raised).
TRUE OR FALSE?
Akhilesh N Singh, SP City Meerut, confirmed to The Quint that ISIS flags were not raised in the protest march.
WHAT WE FOUND OUT
Akhilesh N Singh, SP City Meerut, told The Quint that ISIS flags were not raised in the protest. On being questioned about the complaint filed by BJP leaders, Singh said that he was not aware of it. He also added that the police had not given permission for the protest to be hold.
Speaking to The Quint, Ravi Gupta, a local ANI journalist also denied having seen ISIS flags waved during the protest. He said, “There were plain black flags, Indian tricolour flags and few flags that had black and white stripes on them. However, there were no ISIS flags.”
Hindustan’s report mentions that the organisers had alleged that there were flags of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the umbrella NGO.
On comparing the ISIS flag with that of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind ’s, we found that they are very different.
The Times of India reported that on the evening of 30 June, to deter people from the protest which was carried out without prior permission, mild force was used by the Meerut police.
On 1 July, members of Jamiat Ulama had reportedly taken out a silent protest in Malegaon. The Indian Express reported that they said, “We do not seek revenge, and don’t believe in violence. We believe in the rule of law.”
On 26 June, the organisation had protested in Jharkhand’s Ranchi as well and demanded that the state government take required action, reported The Times of India.
(The Quint has reached out to Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and the story will be updated after they respond.)
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