Women Press Freedom condemns the charges against Desai, demands authorities stop using such baseless tactics to silence critical voices

Location: India, Surat
Date: February 6, 2024

The Coalition for Women in Journalism and Women Press Freedom are concerned about the criminal defamation charges pressed against Indian journalist Jashoda Desai for merely raising questions over a politician’s qualifications on social media. Desai, a journalist with Prathna Sandesh News, exercised her fundamental duty to scrutinize those in power, a cornerstone of democratic accountability. Such legal actions against journalists, for carrying out their professional duties, undermine the essential role of the press in a democratic society. The use of defamation laws to silence criticism is a tactic that has no place in a free and open society. This is not an isolated incident in India; the pattern of legal harassment against journalists, as seen in the cases reported by the Indian Express and Deccan Herald, among others, signals a disturbing trend of using the law as a tool to intimidate and silence the press. We demand the immediate withdrawal of these unfounded charges against Jashoda Desai. We call on the authorities to ensure that journalists can perform their duties without fear of legal reprisal or persecution.

Desai, who works for Prathna Sandesh News, a local news organization in the district, is facing accusations of uploading content on social media that questions the educational qualification of Mohan Dodhiya, a local politician of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In the complaint, filed by a citizen named Keyur Patel, the chief of a local Karchaliya village accuses the journalist of derogatory remarks against the politician on a social media platform. 

According to Indian Express, the journalist has been charged with forgery for the purpose of harming reputation, defamation, putting or engraving matter known to be defamatory, and the sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter.

Desai’s case is not the first one involving legal harassment of journalists in India. Several in the past have also been booked by the police for merely doing their job.

More recently, in a separate incident, four journalists are facing “criminal conspiracy and criminal trespass” charges for reporting a women’s protest where the protestors entered the Kerala state police chief's residence on December 16 to demonstrate against the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl, the Deccan Herald reported. The report, however, did not name the individuals involved.

In June this year, Women Press Freedom documented how Asianet News reporter Akhila Nandakumar was investigated for conspiracy to defame after reporting on suspicious exam results of the leader of the student wing of India’s Communist Party. Her arraignment garnered immense outrage, and the police eventually withdrew the case in October, informing the Kerala High Court that her name was removed as an accused because no evidence was found against her.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom condemns the charges against Desai and demands that the authorities in India stop using such baseless tactics to silence critical voices in the country’s press ecosystem, as well as protect the rights of journalists to report and ask questions without any fear of persecution. The intimidation and weaponization of law to shut down journalists is not acceptable as it corrodes the foundations of a democratic and free society. We stand in solidarity with Jashoda Desai and all other journalists facing unjust persecution through the weaponization of law, which not only threatens them from doing their jobs but also cultivates a hostile atmosphere for free speech. We demand that the charges against Desai are withdrawn with immediate effect.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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