Global media body slams India’s arrest spree over ‘anti-national’ speech

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned India’s sweeping crackdown on freedom of expression, calling out the use of sedition and preventive detention laws to arrest over 125 people for social media posts deemed ‘anti-India’ or ‘pro-Pakistan.’

In a strong statement, the IFJ urged Indian authorities to “respect democratic principles” and end the arrest of individuals for expressing dissent on national issues. “The IFJ condemns the use of sedition and preventative detention laws to arrest individuals for exercising their right to expression on important national issues,” the global media body said,, warning that freedom of expression is being eroded under the guise of nationalism.

The crackdown, which began after the April 22 deadly attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, has been most severe in Assam, a northeastern state governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

 Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a vocal Hindu nationalist, confirmed the arrest of 94 individuals, including Aminul Islam, general secretary of the opposition All India United Democratic Front.

Islam was first charged with sedition for allegedly defending Pakistan, then re-arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) — a law allowing detention without trial. Sarma pledged the “state-wide crackdown on traitors” would continue, as Assam police began monitoring digital platforms for any expression seen as sympathetic to Pakistan. One man was reportedly arrested for posting a Pakistani flag on Instagram.

In Uttar Pradesh, another BJP-ruled state, authorities have arrested at least 30 individuals across 18 districts for opposing Operation Sindoor — India’s military action against Pakistan. Police are also reportedly targeting users who deleted their posts after initially expressing dissent.

One of the most high-profile arrests was Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a professor at Ashoka University, who was detained in New Delhi on May 18 by Haryana police. His alleged crime: a Facebook post criticizing the glorification of India’s military and warning of rising hate crimes. He now faces charges of inciting communal disharmony and rebellion.

Civil rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, say the crackdown is part of a broader pattern of targeting Muslim voices and criminalizing dissent. A recent Bombay High Court ruling that granted bail to a 19-year-old Muslim student accused of sedition warned that such overreach risks “further radicalizing” India’s youth.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has extended its repression to independent media. On April 29, the popular 4PM News Network YouTube channel, with over 7 million subscribers, was blocked under the Information Technology Act, accused of posting content critical of India’s Kashmir response.

Independent outlet The Wire was also blocked in May, along with 8,000 X (formerly Twitter) accounts, including prominent Kashmiri platforms Free Press Kashmir, Kashmiriyat, and Maktoob Media.

Indian authorities also blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major outlets like Dawn News, Samaa TV, and Geo News, accusing them of threatening national security.

The Indian Journalists Union warned that branding all criticism as “anti-India” risks choking legitimate public discourse. It called for restraint, stating that national security must not be used as a shield to silence dissent and journalism.