The Delhi High Court has allowed prominent Indian journalist Rana Ayyub to travel abroad, six days after banning her from traveling to Europe to speak at a series of lectures there about the harassment and intimidation of journalists in the world’s largest democracy.
On Tuesday, March 29, the independent investigative journalist, writing for The Washington Post, received email calls from India’s Law Enforcement Directorate (ED), which investigates financial crimes, 14 minutes before her flight to London departed from Mumbai.
Known as Look Out Circular [LOC]the summons was related to an investigation by the directorate into the alleged misuse of donations collected by Rana Ayoub for relief work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Monday, the court overturned the LOC, stating that it was “bad faith” or “devoid of merit”, and in violation of “human rights”. [of Ayyub] to travel abroad and exercise her freedom of speech and expression.” The court has now allowed Rana to travel abroad on the condition that she share her detailed itinerary with Ed and return to India by April 11.
Neither the European Commission nor the government has publicly commented on the ruling.
Ayub is a fierce critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Hindu nationalist ideology of his BJP and the activities of Hindu right-wing groups and political leaders. On social media, Modi’s far-right supporters regularly attack and threaten her for her articles highlighting the harassment and persecution of Muslims in India.
Attacks on Ayoub have escalated since the Emergency Department froze her bank accounts, accused her of money laundering, and opened an investigation into the case in February.
Rana Ayoub denied the allegation that the emergency department was directed against her. She described the agency’s actions as an attempt to intimidate her.
Lawyer Vrinda Grover, who represented Rana Ayyub in a Delhi court, said her client was harassed by the emergency director because she was critical of the government.
After Rana was banned from traveling last week, the London programs where she was due to speak on April 1 has been cancelled. With the Delhi court lifting the travel ban on Rana Ayyub on Monday, she is set to take part in an event organized by the International Press Festival in Perugia, Italy.
Rana Ayoub will deliver a lecture titled “When You Attack the State: Journalism is Under Criticism in the World’s Largest Democracy,” scheduled keynote speaker, on Friday, April 8.
Many festival participants expressed their happiness and relief when they learned that Rana Ayoub will be at the festival.
Julie Bosetti, vice president of global research at the International Center for Journalists, and an expert on online attacks against female journalists, said she was “delighted that the New Delhi High Court delivered justice and overturned the completely unjustified ban on Rana.” Rana Ayyub’s right to travel to speak at international events about the erosion of press freedom in India and the threats to female journalists online.”
“The ban imposed on her when she tried to board a plane bound for London at the invitation of the International Center for Journalists and UK-based human rights lawyer at Doughty Street Chambers, was a bald and powerful attempt to silence her critical journalism and commentary and shatter her soul – but ultimately failed,” Bosetti said, Who will be the mediator during Rana Ayoub’s lecture at the Press Festival, for Voice of America.
Bosetti noted that Ayyub must be able to tell her stories and tell her truth within the international press community if the world is to believe that press freedom and true democracy have a future in India.
Bosetti said: “It has more powers to confront the Indian authorities and demand upholding their rights.”
