Two Mumbai girls arrested for Facebook post against Bal Thackeray get bail

by FluteHolder Mon Nov 19, 2012 10:18 am

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/2-mumbai-girls-in-jail-for-tweet-against-bal-thackeray/1/229846.html

by Idéfix Mon Nov 19, 2012 2:21 pm

This is ridiculous. To interpret simple facebook messages of individuals as section 505(2) crimes "statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes" is completely arbitrary abuse of power. What India needs is more active advocacy of individual rights and free speech.

by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Mon Nov 19, 2012 2:25 pm

panini press wrote:This is ridiculous. To interpret simple facebook messages of individuals as section 505(2) crimes "statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes" is completely arbitrary abuse of power. What India needs is more active advocacy of individual rights and free speech.

What India needs is hire more sensible police officials. The IPS - the second class IAS, seems to be getting less and less competent.

by Idéfix Mon Nov 19, 2012 2:27 pm

Here is a Facebook page that appears to belong to one of the girls who was arrested for posting the message. You may show her support if you wish.

https://www.facebook.com/shaheen.dhada.5

by Petrichor Mon Nov 19, 2012 3:21 pm

I was listening to a Tim Sebastian debate about whether freedom of press is under threat in India. Shashi Tharoor actually said something along the lines of how the "drawing rooms" of India are different from those in New York and the west and that freedoms that are taken for granted in the Western context cannot be "imported" into a society like India - his excuse was something like illiteracy and passions running high in India. I thought it was an interesting position to take for the moral relativist who feels quite smug in his arrogant seat to be able to judge what freedoms Indians can and cannot have.

by Idéfix Mon Nov 19, 2012 3:24 pm

Thanks for posting this -- will check it out later. I do not accept the Tharoor line of reasoning. (It is similar to the line Merlot took to defend the government's midnight lathicarge against peaceful protestors). A lot of the overreach the government is doing with internet censorship is not just bad compared to the west; it is also bad compared to Indian standards -- both online and offline.

by Vakavaka Pakapaka Mon Nov 19, 2012 3:38 pm

atcg wrote:I was listening to a Tim Sebastian debate about whether freedom of press is under threat in India. Shashi Tharoor actually said something along the lines of how the "drawing rooms" of India are different from those in New York and the west and that freedoms that are taken for granted in the Western context cannot be "imported" into a society like India - his excuse was something like illiteracy and passions running high in India. I thought it was an interesting position to take for the moral relativist who feels quite smug in his arrogant seat to be able to judge what freedoms Indians can and cannot have.

Tharoor is a demagogue. I remember Christopher Hitchens once explaining Hinduism to Him. Smile

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Two Mumbai girls arrested for Facebook post against Bal Thackeray get bail

Two Mumbai girls arrested for Facebook post against Bal Thackeray get bail

Re: Two Mumbai girls arrested for Facebook post against Bal Thackeray get bail

Re: Two Mumbai girls arrested for Facebook post against Bal Thackeray get bail

Re: Two Mumbai girls arrested for Facebook post against Bal Thackeray get bail

Re: Two Mumbai girls arrested for Facebook post against Bal Thackeray get bail

Re: Two Mumbai girls arrested for Facebook post against Bal Thackeray get bail

Re: Two Mumbai girls arrested for Facebook post against Bal Thackeray get bail

Re: Two Mumbai girls arrested for Facebook post against Bal Thackeray get bail