India: Rana Ayyub receives death and rape threats following her coverage on Kashmir

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July 4, 2020, Mumbai -- The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed and deeply concerned over online attacks Rana Ayyub received and exposed on Twitter.

On July 3rd, Rana took to twitter to report the various death and rape threats she has been receiving since her coverage on Kashmir. The threats began after she spoke out against the recent killing of Bashir Ahmed Khan, a 65-year-old Srinagar resident, who was caught in the crossfire between militants and security personnel in Kashmir’s Sopore region.

One of the threats read “Remember what happened to Gauri Lankesh”. Gauri, an Indian journalist turned activist was murdered brutally in September 2017. She was killed while she was returning to her home after her day at work. At least eight bullets were fired at the journalist, of which three hit her in the head, neck and chest, killing her on the spot.

Another threat she received involved profanities, rape threats and foul language against Kashmiris and Muslims.

Rana received online support from many organizations and individuals championing her journalism. Her brother Arif Ayyub said: “My sister has gone through intense trauma and anxiety for more than a decade receiving death and rape threats and calls from random numbers. She has been doing her journalism at great personal risk to her life but it is time the authorities take action. Proud of her.”

In another tweet, Rana wrote, "The koparkhairane police station officials just visited me. I will be recording my statement tomorrow and handing over all the evidence including threats on twitter, Facebook and Instagram. They have promised swift action"

“Every time I write or speak on Kashmir, the hate is unimaginable. This time however I think they are doing it brazenly. Earlier at least they used to cover their words, use a language that isn’t specific, but this time they are being specific and aren’t scared of anything,” Ayyub told ThePrint India on Friday.

The threats reminding her of Lankesh’s death have been particularly nerve-wracking for her.

“I remember three days before Gauri died, she posted on my Facebook wall when I was receiving a lot of hate, telling me that I shouldn’t worry and that these people wont do anything. Three days later she was killed so there is always a sense of fear that what if online hate will go offline,” she added.

Disturbingly, Rana is still being targeted by online media platforms as well. OpIndia yesterday published an article citing her as “anti-India and pro-terrorism propagandist”. The article also undermined Rana’s great journalistic accomplishments by claiming that “she has fallen prey to pro-Pakistani sympathisers”. 

Rana Ayyub recently won the ‘2020 McGill medal for journalist courage’. She is the author of the investigative book Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover Up. The book is based on her undercover investigations on the post-2002 Gujarat riots and Police encounter killings.

These recent threats are not the first attacks Rana received for her journalism. Life of women journalists have become more dangerous under the current government of Narrendra Modi.  

On 24 May 2018, United Nations released a statement saying  "Government of India should ensure the safety of journalist Rana Ayyub, and take immediate action against those who threaten rape, murder"

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled by the constant attacks Indian women journalists and Rana Ayyub face for their fair reporting. We profusely condemn the threats Rana faced and urge Indian authorities to take action against the perpetrators.