A prominent Indian journalist has been prevented from flying to Europe to speak about intimidation of journalists and rights in the world’s largest democracy.
Rana Ayyub, an outspoken critic of the government of Narendra Modi and columnist for the Washington Post, was not allowed to board a flight at Mumbai airport on Tuesday. She had been due to travel to London to address a conference at the International Centre for Journalists.
“I was stopped today at the Indian immigration while I was about to board my flight to London to deliver my speech on the intimidation of journalists with @ICFJ. I was to travel to Italy right after to deliver the keynote address at the @journalismfest on the Indian democracy,” she said in a tweet.
Ayyub said she had previously publicised her planned trips on social media but the Enforcement Directorate – which investigates economic crimes such as money laundering – issued a last-minute summons to appear at its offices while she was already at the airports.
The International Centre for Journalists protested in a tweet. “ICFJ stands with @RanaAyyub and we reiterate our demand for the Indian authorities to end their legal and digital harassment campaign against the multi-award-winning @washingtonpost journalist. #LetRanaFly #WeStandWithRana.”
Ayyub, 37, says she has been subjected to harassment by far-right Hindu groups because of her reporting. Her book, Gujarat Files, on the anti-Muslim pogram in 2002, accuses Modi, who was ruling the state at the time, of being complicit in the atrocity.
In February, UN rights experts called on the government to stop “misogynistic and sectarian” online attacks against her.
Under the Modi government, journalists and civil rights activists have complained of curtailed freedom and harassment. In 2020 Muslim comedian Munawar Faruqui spent weeks in jail over a supposedly anti-Hindu joke he had not told. Facebook posts disparaging the government can occasionally result in a knock on the door by a policeman.
The directorate’s summons relates to an investigation it is carrying out into alleged misuse of public donations collected by Ayyub for humanitarian relief work. It alleges that she used the funds for her personal use and submitted fake bills to claim expenses. In February, the directorate froze more than 15 million rupees in her accounts. She has denied the allegations.
Analysts say that the directorate is routinely used as a tool by governments of every stripe to intimidate and silence opposition politicians and others by accusing them of corruption or money laundering.
