Hindu extremists release deepfake video of Muslim journalist Rana Ayyub
Award-winning Indian investigative journalist Rana Ayyub, known for her criticism of the ruling Hindu supremacist government, has become the victim of another wave of targeted online abuse. A sexually explicit deepfake video with her image morphed on it has been circulated by Hindu extremist groups, accompanied by leaked personal information, including her email and government IDs. Ayyub stated that these tactics aim to silence her reporting and intimidate journalists critical of the government.
The Washington Post Press Freedom Initiative and the Committee to Protect Journalists have called on Indian authorities to protect Ayyub and bring the perpetrators to justice. This follows years of harassment, including previous doxxing, death threats, and false allegations spread by far-right influencers.
Muslim family attacked during picnic in BJP-ruled Gujarat
A Muslim family enjoying a picnic in BJP-ruled Gujarat’s Gandhinagar was violently attacked following a disagreement with a toy train driver. The assailants, armed with knives and sticks, targeted the family, including women and children injured. All victims are hospitalized, and police have launched an investigation.
Incidents of targeted violence against Muslim families have become increasingly common in public spaces across BJP-ruled states, with perpetrators often emboldened by a lack of accountability.
Police raid Muslim gathering in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh
In BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich, police raided a Muslim religious gathering, accusing a Muslim scholar of brainwashing Hindu women into converting to Islam.
Conversion accusations are frequently weaponized against Muslim clerics, leading to arrests. Recently, 12 Muslims including prominent Islamic scholars were sentenced to life imprisonment over similar accusations.
BJP’s Islamophobic election advert in Jharkhand ordered to be taken down
India’s Election Commission has ordered the BJP’s Jharkhand unit to remove an ad portraying Muslims as “Bangladeshi intruders” disrupting Hindu households. The ad, part of the BJP’s election campaign, shows marginalized Muslims being depicted as uncivilized and harming Hindu communities. Opposition parties filed complaints, arguing that the ad violates the Model Code of Conduct by spreading anti-Muslim hatred and propaganda to polarize voters.
Throughout their election rallies in Jharkhand, federal ministers and BJP leaders have claimed that “Bangladeshi infiltrators” and “Rohingyas” are marrying tribal women to seize their land and use them as proxies to gain influence in the area. Human rights groups and media outlets have found that such claims are false.
