Haunted for Holding Truth: The Harassment of Rana Ayyub

November 08, 2024 – India – 

Indian investigative journalist Rana Ayyub embarked on a reporting trip to Manipur, only to find herself under constant surveillance by local intelligence personnel. CPJ sources revealed she was followed for four days—through villages, checkpoints, even to the washroom—ostensibly “for her safety,” though intended to intimidate and impede her work.

On November 8, her mobile number was leaked on X (formerly Twitter) by a right-wing account known as “Hindutva Knight.” That night, Ayyub received at least 200 unsolicited phone and video calls, explicit WhatsApp messages, deepfake images, and repeated OTP requests flooding in from banks and e-commerce platforms. The barrage included rape and death threats—harassment that she reported as part of her daily life and which she described as “a virtual lynch mob… out to strip you of your dignity”.

Described by CPJ’s Asia program coordinator as subjected to “relentless targeting,” Ayyub’s ordeal reflects a disturbing pattern: after her investigative reporting—particularly challenging Hindutva extremism and exposing systemic injustice—state officials and online mobs have repeatedly sought to derail her work.

She filed a complaint with Mumbai’s cybercrime police, and CPJ, IFJ, RSF, and HRF have called for immediate investigations and accountability. Despite her high profile—including a Washington Post column and bestselling book—Ayyub endures continual silencing attempts: trolling, doxxing, legal action, deepfakes, and abusive calls.

Ayyub has acknowledged the toll: “the biggest casualty has been my journalism and my peace of mind,” and revealed she resumed medication for anxiety. Yet she remains steadfast, calling journalism “the elixir of my life” and refusing to flee or stop reporting.

Her targeting reveals a stark reality: when powerful institutions and online mobs collude to silence dissent, press freedom erodes. Rana Ayyub’s story is a litmus test for Indian democracy: how the state and society choose to respond will determine whether investigative journalism can survive—or is crushed—within the world’s largest democracy.

Reference – 

Indian intelligence officials harassing noted Muslim journalist Rana Ayyub: CPJ

https://www.dawn.com/news/1871667

Indian journalist Rana Ayyub tailed by officials, harassed after number leaked