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Outrage at India arrests over Facebook post | Outrage at India arrests over Facebook post |
(35 minutes later) | |
The arrest of two women on Monday over a comment on Facebook has sparked off widespread anger in India. | The arrest of two women on Monday over a comment on Facebook has sparked off widespread anger in India. |
One of the women had criticised the shutdown of Mumbai in her post, after the death of politician Bal Thackeray, while the other "liked" the comment. | One of the women had criticised the shutdown of Mumbai in her post, after the death of politician Bal Thackeray, while the other "liked" the comment. |
The women, accused of ""hurting religious sentiments", were released on bail after appearing in court. | The women, accused of ""hurting religious sentiments", were released on bail after appearing in court. |
The death of the controversial Hindu nationalist politician on Saturday afternoon brought Mumbai to a halt. | The death of the controversial Hindu nationalist politician on Saturday afternoon brought Mumbai to a halt. |
In her Facebook comment on Sunday, 21-year-old Shaheen Dhanda wrote: "People like Thackeray are born and die daily and one should not observe a 'bandh' [shutdown] for that." | In her Facebook comment on Sunday, 21-year-old Shaheen Dhanda wrote: "People like Thackeray are born and die daily and one should not observe a 'bandh' [shutdown] for that." |
Her 20-year-old friend Renu Srinivasan 'liked' the status. | Her 20-year-old friend Renu Srinivasan 'liked' the status. |
'Abuse of authority' | |
The Times of India newspaper responded with the headline: "Shame: 2 girls arrested for harmless online comment." | The Times of India newspaper responded with the headline: "Shame: 2 girls arrested for harmless online comment." |
The newspaper said the arrests were a "clear case of abuse of authority". | The newspaper said the arrests were a "clear case of abuse of authority". |
"The girl was not slandering anybody, nor was she promoting hatred towards any community". | "The girl was not slandering anybody, nor was she promoting hatred towards any community". |
The newspaper said the charges should be dropped and a case of "wrongful arrest" registered against the police. | The newspaper said the charges should be dropped and a case of "wrongful arrest" registered against the police. |
Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju has written a letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan criticising the arrests. | Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju has written a letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan criticising the arrests. |
"We are living in a democracy, not a fascist dictatorship. In fact, this arrest itself appears to be a criminal act, since... it is a crime to wrongfully arrest or wrongfully confine someone who has committed no crime," Mr Katju, a former Supreme Court judge, said. | "We are living in a democracy, not a fascist dictatorship. In fact, this arrest itself appears to be a criminal act, since... it is a crime to wrongfully arrest or wrongfully confine someone who has committed no crime," Mr Katju, a former Supreme Court judge, said. |
Telecommunications Minister Kapil Sibal was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency that he was "deeply saddened" by the arrests. | Telecommunications Minister Kapil Sibal was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency that he was "deeply saddened" by the arrests. |
"It is their point of view, and enforcement of these laws are not to ban people from expressing their views," he said. | "It is their point of view, and enforcement of these laws are not to ban people from expressing their views," he said. |
In recent months, police have arrested a number of people in cases which are being seen as a test of India's commitment to freedom of speech. | In recent months, police have arrested a number of people in cases which are being seen as a test of India's commitment to freedom of speech. |
In October, Ravi Srinivasan, a 46-year-old businessman in the southern Indian city of Pondicherry, was arrested for a tweet criticising Karti Chidambaram, son of Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram. He was later released on bail. | In October, Ravi Srinivasan, a 46-year-old businessman in the southern Indian city of Pondicherry, was arrested for a tweet criticising Karti Chidambaram, son of Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram. He was later released on bail. |
In September, there was outrage when a cartoonist was jailed in Mumbai on charges of sedition for his anti-corruption drawings. The charges were later dropped. | In September, there was outrage when a cartoonist was jailed in Mumbai on charges of sedition for his anti-corruption drawings. The charges were later dropped. |
And in April, the West Bengal government arrested a teacher who had emailed to friends a cartoon that was critical of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He too was later released on bail. | And in April, the West Bengal government arrested a teacher who had emailed to friends a cartoon that was critical of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He too was later released on bail. |