Professor Released After Being Detained for Social Media Comments During India-Pakistan Conflict
A professor who was detained over social media posts during the India-Pakistan clashes has been released on bail. Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a professor at a university in Haryana, was arrested on Sunday for remarks he made about two female army officers during the conflict.
The comments were made in the context of the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, with the professor discussing the presence of both Hindu and Muslim women in military roles. The Commission for Women in Haryana, which oversees gender-related issues in the state, filed a complaint against him, alleging that his remarks undermined the role of women in the armed forces and were an attempt to vilify the government’s military actions.
The Supreme Court of India ordered his release on bail, citing the need to ensure his freedom of expression. The court also imposed restrictions on his ability to comment on the case and his social media activity, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the balance between free speech and the protection of public interest.
During the conflict, the professor made a Facebook post that highlighted the significance of having both an Indian and Muslim woman in military roles. He stated that while the optics of having two female soldiers presenting their findings are important, they must translate to reality on the ground. Otherwise, he said, it would be a case of hypocrisy.
“The grassroots reality that common Muslims face in India is different from what the government tried to show, but at the same time, the press conference shows that an India, united in its diversity, is not completely dead as an idea,” the professor added, noting that he is Muslim.
His case has drawn attention from Muslim and human rights groups, who have accused some members of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliated organizations of promoting anti-Islamic hate speech and engaging in vigilantism, including the destruction of Muslim-owned properties. These groups argue that the government’s actions are part of a broader pattern of discrimination against Muslims in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has denied the existence of religious discrimination in India, insisting that the country is a secular state and that all citizens, regardless of religion, are treated equally under the law.
The incident has sparked discussions about the balance between free speech and the protection of public interest, with critics arguing that the government’s handling of the case reflects a broader crackdown on dissent in the country. The professor’s case is seen as part of a larger trend of increased scrutiny of social media posts and public commentary in India.