Amnesty India, press bodies slam addition of BNS Section 152 in FIR against Alt News co-founder
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday said that charges of endangering India’s sovereignty and unity were added to a case against Mohammed Zubair.
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
Human rights organisation Amnesty International India and several press bodies have criticised the inclusion of Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in a first information report against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, calling it a misuse of the provision to curb freedom of expression.
Section 152 of the criminal law pertains to acts that endanger India’s sovereignty, unity and integrity.
On Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh Police told the Allahabad High Court that the offence had been included in the case registered against Zubair on October 7, in connection with a post on the social media platform X about Hindutva supremacist Yati Narsinghanand.
On Thursday, Amnesty International India said that the decision taken by the police to include Section 152 in the charges against Zubair was an example of how the law was being used to harass journalists in the country.
In a statement, the organisation said that Section 152 was a “new version” of a colonial-era sedition law in a new version.
“For far too long, authorities have misused the sedition law to harass, intimidate, and persecute human rights defenders, activists, journalists, students, filmmakers, singers, actors, and writers for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression” it added.
Meanwhile, press bodies have demanded that the police withdraw its first information report against Zubair.
The Press Club of India said:...
