Ali Khan Mahmudabad Arrested Over Social Media Post
The arrest of Ali Khan Mahmudabad has highlighted the tensions between India and Pakistan, and the challenges of balancing freedom of speech with national security concerns. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how the case will unfold and what implications it may have for academic freedom and online expression in India.
Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an associate professor at Ashoka University, was arrested on Sunday for a social media post criticizing the Indian government's handling of mob lynchings and destruction of Muslim properties, and praising the strategic restraint of the armed forces in relation to Pakistan.
The arrest was made under sections of the criminal code pertaining to communal harmony, incitement of armed rebellion, and insults of religious beliefs, after a complaint was filed by a youth leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana. Mahmudabad's lawyer claims that the case is based on a misunderstanding of the professor's comments, which he says were meant to safeguard the lives of citizens and soldiers.
The incident has sparked outrage among professors and activists, with over 1,200 signing an open letter defending Mahmudabad's right to free speech. The arrest is part of a series of arrests made by Indian police in Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi over alleged connections to Pakistan or comments related to the recent escalation between the two countries.
Separately, a travel vlogger was detained for allegedly transmitting sensitive information to Pakistani operatives, under the Official Secrets Act 1923. Pakistani journalists have cast doubts on the reports by Indian media, calling them "amplified falsehoods" and "ridiculous".
The university has stated that it will cooperate with the police in the investigation, while Mahmudabad's arrest has raised concerns about freedom of speech and the handling of sensitive information in India.