Muslim journalist arrested for questioning Saharanpur mosque demolition in UP
Lucknow:: Police in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh have arrested a 34-year-old Muslim journalist and social activist Huda Zariwala after she questioned the demolition of a mosque inside the Saharanpur collectorate and criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Zariwala had arrived at the Saharanpur Circuit House to protest against the mosque demolition. She reportedly got into an argument with police personnel over entering the premises, following which the police stopped her.
A video of Zariwala later surfaced on social media in which she can be seen questioning Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the administration over the mosque demolition. In the video, she said the demolition of the mosque was wrong and that the Muslim community would stand against it.
A separate First Information Report (FIR) was registered against her at Sadar Bazar Police Station in Saharanpur on September 7, accusing her of making allegedly provocative and objectionable remarks in connection with the demolition of the mosque.
The complaint alleged that Zariwala made disrespectful comments against a person holding a constitutional position and that her statements could disturb communal harmony and public order. It sought stringent action against her.
Zariwala was subsequently arrested and sent to jail. The FIR invokes Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
A police officer at Sadar Police Station confirmed Zariwala’s arrest and said she had been sent to jail.
“She was giving inflammatory speech and creating a ruckus over there and was arrested by the police,” the officer said.
Zariwala had recently drawn attention after questioning and confronting Delhi Police over the assault on Muslim women journalists by police personnel.
