08, May 2020 | CJP Team

Zamser Ali, a well-known social activist and journalist, who also heads CJP’s Assam state team was today produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Mangaldai in Darrang district. He had been arrested on May 7, for making derogatory and defamatory social media posts against a woman professor of Mangaldai College who had herself allegedly made deeply communal posts.

Zamser Ali has been charged under sections 120(B)/294A/295A/500/506 of the IPC for making misogynistic posts against Rupa Rani Bhuyan who was recently arrested herself in connection with a case of making communally inflammatory social media posts.

In his bail application Mr Ali has stated that he is not a flight risk and will appear regularly before investigative authorities and the trial court whenever called upon to do so. He has agreed to cooperate fully with the police and not engage in any act of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses. He also states that given the Covid-19 pandemic, sending him to jail might put him at a health risk.

Meanwhile, given the nature of Mr Ali’s Facebook post (dated April 22) that precipitated this case, CJP would like to clarify that we can never condone any derogatory words or actions against people of any gender or sexuality. We therefore, as a socially conscious organisation, disassociate completely from his deeply misogynistic and unacceptable post. Mr Ali’s social media post is particularly regrettable given his exemplary work in the field of human rights, especially leading CJP’s team in Assam battling the citizenship crisis, hunger and alienation. While CJP recognises that the intemperate and unacceptable post by Mr Ali was probably an ill thought response to a slew of virulent and communal comments and messages against the minorities, misogyny can never be a response.

The bail hearing will take place on Monday, May 11.

Related:

Zamser Ali: A Ray of hope for the people of Assam

CJP condemns arrest of human rights activist Zamser Ali in Assam