Journalists should not be jailed for expression: UN spokesman

- The United Nations Human Rights Agency has expressed concern over the arrest of social activist Sitalwad and demanded his immediate release.

New delhi date. Wednesday, June 29, 2022

A spokesman for UN President Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday on the arrest of Mohamed Zubair, co-founder of Alt News in India, that journalists should not be jailed for their writing, tweeting and speaking. "It is important that people have freedom of expression without the threat of harassment," he said. Zubair, co-founder of the fact-checking website Alt News, was arrested by Delhi Police on Monday on charges of insulting religious sentiments through a 2018 tweet.

He was produced before a magistrate from where he was sent to one day police custody. Reacting to the arrest of journalist Zuber, Stephen Dujarric, a spokesman for the Secretary-General, said that "anywhere in the world, it is very important that people be allowed to express themselves freely." Journalists should be allowed to express themselves freely - without any risk or oppression.

Dujarric said there on Zubair's arrest that a journalist should not be jailed for what he writes, what he tweets and what he says. And they can go anywhere in the world, including this room. The United Nations human rights agency has expressed concern over the arrest of social activist Sitalwad and demanded his immediate release.

He tweeted on Tuesday that he was "deeply concerned" by the arrest and custody of Teesta Sitalwad and two former police officers and demanded their immediate release. They should not be tortured for their activism and solidarity with the victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Read more: Why was Alt News' Mohammed Zubair arrested? Delhi Police gave this answer