BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • Issues
      • Shirin Dalvi: Testing The Limits Of...
      Issues

      Shirin Dalvi: Testing The Limits Of Freedom Of Expresssion

      By - Portia Putatunda |
      Published -  15 July 2015 6:57 AM IST
    • Boomlive

      Our special series on people who have been victimised for saying what they think. Between legal action, violence and harassment, they have paid a heavy price for the right to freedom of expression.

      Shirin Dalvi, Journalist

      Shirin dalvi

      On January 7, 12 members of the editorial team of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo including the editor were murdered by three gunmen for printing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in 2006 and 2011 in Paris. The incident brought global attention to the conflict between free speech and extremist action to prevent it and in particular the violent reaction of some Muslims to criticism and caricature of Islam.

      The episode had life-changing repercussions for Shirin Dalvi the Mumbai editor of Urdu daily, Avadhnama. A bi-lingual newspaper published in Hindi and Urdu, Avadhnama is headquartered in Lucknow, and listed in the name of one Taqdees Fatima Rizvi.

      Avadhnama's January 17 edition in reporting the news of the attack on Charlie Hebdo had used one of the cartoons first published by Charlie Hebdo in 2006. Some local readers found it offensive and saw it as an insult to the Muslim community. On January 17, Dalvi, a 47-year-old journalist from Mumbra and India’s only woman editor of an Urdu daily was charged under Section 295A of the IPC, 1860 for outraging religious sentiments by insulting religion with “malicious intent”.

      The cartoon published by Charlie Hebdo in 2006 had depicted Prophet Muhammad lamenting and covering his face with the caption, "Mahomet débordé par les intégristes" ("Muhammad overwhelmed by fundamentalists").

      Readers of Avadhnama offended by the use of the cartoons filed three FIRs against Dalvi at police stations in Thane and Lower Parel. Dalvi, fearing attacks on herself as well as her family, went into 'hiding' for about 10 days. She finally surrendered on January 28 and was released on bail in an hour.

      After six months of lying low, Dalvi finally agreed to speak to BOOM and relive the experience. "I would first want to begin with an apology for having printed the title cover of Charlie Hebdo. It was a mistake and I had no intention to hurt anybody's feelings. I firmly believe in Prophet Mohammed - sallallahu alahi wa sallam - Peace be upon Him."

      The three different cases against Dalvi have been clubbed together and are being argued in the Bombay High Court by senior advocate Mihir Desai. Meanwhile, the Awadhnama has been shut down and she has been out of work. Shirin, who has never worn a burqa, now wears one to avoid being recognised and harassed.

      "Not many people are happy that I have achieved what I have in my 28 years of experience. Undoubtedly, it was my biggest mistake to let that older cover title of the french magazine go into print. I am neither an RSS agent nor a Taslima Nazreen follower as I have been portrayed by many since the incident. I am aware of the fact that it was a grave mistake on my part but I can only request people to forgive me and approach this incident with knowledge, acceptance and wisdom, not violence," says Dalvi.

      Watch Dalvi's entire interview here.

      [video type='youtube' id='xM0pfoynmdc' height='350']

      Also, on ‘Testing The Limits Of Freedom Of Expression’, cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, filmmaker Anand Patwardhan and Tarakant Dwivedi, crime reporter share their experience.

      Tags

      Charlie HebdoEditorFree SpeechFreedom of ExpressionFreedom of SpeechIPCJournalistLegal CaseMagazineProphet MuhammadSection 295AShireen DalviShirin DalviUrdu daily
      Read Full Article
      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!