Raqib Naik, Executive Director of Center for the Study of Organized Hate, emphasized the risks faced by those documenting hate crimes in India during his keynote speech at the Oslo Freedom Forum 2024. “In India, those who document hate crimes and hate speech are more at risk of the regime’s actions than those who commit them,” Naik stated. He highlighted the rise in hate speeches, attacks on the free press, and censorship under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Naik explained that the censorship of information on hate crimes on social media is severely undermining the ability to report on these incidents. “By blocking accounts and removing content that documents hate crimes, the authorities are denying journalists access to critical information,” Naik said.
In July, police in India’s Uttar Pradesh state booked two Muslim journalists, Zakir Ali Tyagi and Wasim Akram Tyagi for sharing information about the alleged lynching of a Muslim man, on social media.
“The act of reporting or documenting either a hate crime or hate speech has unofficially become a criminal act. It’s unfortunately the new reality under which journalists and hate trackers have to operate. For them, the distance between freedom and jail is becoming narrower with each passing day,” Naik explained, highlighting the growing risks for journalists.
Naik states that shutting down Hindutva Watch and India Hate Lab also deprives the public in India of crucial information about politically motivated sectarian and religious violence, and also hampers law enforcement’s ability to investigate these crimes. “We’ve had local police contact us to use our documentation for investigating violence,” he says.
India’s ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index slipped to 161 out of 180 countries, a significant drop from its 2014 position at 140. Modi’s government has been criticized for suppressing tweets, posts, and user accounts critical of the ruling party and its policies. The blocking of Hindutva Watch and India Hate Lab is seen as a move to control the information space as the country slides further into authoritarianism.
Naik has challenged the blocking of Hindutva Watch’s X account in the Delhi High Court. At the time of its blocking, the account had over 79,000 followers. Naik was not provided prior notice, a hearing, or a copy of the blocking order.
Naik and others worry that blocking these platforms will hinder the documentation and reporting of hate crimes in India. However, despite the suspension, Naik remains undeterred, continuing his work in documenting human rights abuses.
“We are still following our usual routine. We post videos on our social media handles and website. It’s still making its way to the Indian social media ecosystem. People are using different tools to access our website and handles.”