Pakistani journalist cleared of fake news charges amid UK riots scandal
A Pakistani court has acquitted a freelance journalist who was accused of spreading false news that incited riots against Muslims in the UK.
The court’s decision followed a Federal Investigation Authority report clearing Farhan Asif of the charges.
Arrested in Lahore last week, Asif was initially blamed for spreading misinformation about a stabbing incident in the town of Southport in the UK which led to violent protests.
The FIA found that Asif had merely shared information from other sources, and he had since apologized and deleted the post.
The disinformation, originally from a minor tabloid and circulated by a UK-based individual known for spreading false claims, had triggered nationwide racist violence in the UK, resulting in over 1,000 arrests and nearly 600 charges.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
