Al Jazeera extends support to journalist attacked by Hindu nationalist groups

Al Jazeera Media Network on Sunday condemned the online harassment and death threats endured by Kashmiri freelance journalist Raqib Hameed Naik for his investigative report on COVID-19 relief funding to Hindu organisations based out of the United States.

Naik’s report was published in April, which alleges misuse of US federal COVID-19 relief funds given to Hindu groups in the US.

Hindu American Foundation (HAF), one of the groups mentioned in the report, filed a lawsuit in a Washington, DC, court over the report. Naik has not been named as a direct defendant but was added as a non-party.

In the report, Naik unearthed the details of how five Hindu organisations that received Federal COVID-19 relief funding have ties to Hindu supremacist and religious groups in India.

Hindu American Foundation, a Hindu nationalist group has filed a $75 million lawsuit in response to my AlJazeera piece on COVID funds received by Hindu RW groups.

It’s a SLAPP lawsuit & filed only to intimidate & silence me and other activists. Its an assault on free press. pic.twitter.com/Rdxc2N52sL

— Raqib Hameed Naik (@raqib_naik) May 10, 2021

“AJMN stands by Naik’s impeccable journalism and supports his professional contribution,” reads the statement by Qatar based news organisation.

Naik has been a regular contributor to Al Jazeera English online, reporting from both India and America.

Naik has already reported death threats to US law enforcement agencies but he continues to face online harassment from individuals and groups for reporting human rights issues in India.