Indian regulator fines Zee News over Islamophobic broadcast
Self-regulatory body orders apology and $1,100 fine after program falsely linked Muslim prayer to traffic disruption
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — India’s news broadcasting self-regulatory authority has fined television channel Zee News 100,000 Indian rupees ($1,100) for airing a program that falsely linked a traffic disruption in northern India to a Muslim prayer, ruling that the broadcast violated standards of neutrality and responsible reporting.
In an order dated Feb. 17, the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDSA) directed the channel to pay the fine over a March broadcast titled in Hindi, “Prayer on a Truck… New Controversy Begins in Jammu!”
The program suggested that a traffic jam on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, a key route connecting the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir with the rest of India, was caused by a truck driver offering namaz, or Islamic prayer.
Complaints were filed by Indrajeet Ghorpade, Utkarsh Mishra, and Syed Kaab Rashidi, a legal adviser to the Islamic organization Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. The complainants argued that the segment sensationalized a video clip and framed the incident in a way that vilified Muslims, risking communal tension in a region with a long history of religious and political sensitivity.
After reviewing the broadcast and the channel’s response, the NBDSA concluded that the presentation — including its headlines, graphics, and commentary — did not comply with the industry’s Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards.
The authority ordered Zee News to remove the video from its website, YouTube channel, and other digital platforms, if still available, and to air an apology in a format specified by the regulator.
The ruling comes amid ongoing scrutiny of segments of India’s private television news industry, where debates over religious identity, interfaith relationships, and minority communities have increasingly become the subject of prime-time programming.
In a separate order, the NBDSA also addressed a complaint against Zee Telugu, a sister channel, over a November 2024 broadcast titled “Fake Transgenders Arrested in Hyderabad.” The complaint alleged that the program used derogatory terminology and stigmatized members of the transgender community.
The NBDSA is a self-regulatory body representing private news broadcasters in India. It reviews complaints related to violations of ethical guidelines but does not have the authority to suspend licenses or impose large financial penalties. Its sanctions are limited to fines, content removal directives, and apologies.
Zee News has previously faced action from the NBDSA. In 2023, the authority ordered the channel to issue an apology and pay a fine over a debate show found to have communal undertones while discussing interfaith relationships. In another case, it directed the removal of a program that aired unverified claims targeting a minority community.
Media analysts say repeated findings against major broadcasters have fueled debate over whether India’s system of self-regulation is sufficient to address communalized narratives and misinformation in television news.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
