Left-liberals defend ‘journalist’ Irfan Mehraj over arrest in terror funding case

On March 20 this 12 months, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested ‘journalist’ Irfan Mehraj in reference to a ‘terror funding case’, which was registered in October 2020.

In a press release, the central company said that Mehraj was a detailed affiliate of ‘activist’ Khurram Parvez and a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS).

“Investigation revealed that the JKCCS was funding terror activities in the valley and had also been in (the) propagation of secessionist agenda in the Valley under the garb of protection of human rights,” NIA knowledgeable.

NIA makes first arrest in NGO Terror Funding Case pic.twitter.com/sjPGmxDyNd

— NIA India (@NIA_India) March 21, 2023

It additional added that a number of registered and unregistered NGOs and Trusts working in Jammu and Kashmir have developed hyperlinks with terror outfits akin to Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Soon after his employer ‘Two Circles.Net’ tried to distance itself from the accused by dubbing Irfan Mehraj as a mere contributor to the non-profit propaganda portal (though he labored as an Editor).

In a press release, it stated, “TCN has learned that one of our editorial contributors Mr. Irfan Mehraj has been arrested…Since 2020, Irfan has worked as an independent contractor with TCN assuming editorial and writing responsibilities for our English section.”

NIA has arrested @TCNLive editor Irfan Mehraj,in terror funding case,now TCN is distancing themselves from Irfan Mehraj’s arrest and mendacity about his affiliation with TCN by mentioning him as “contributor” Instead of a full-time editor.Irfan’s was really concerned with TCN-(1/7) pic.twitter.com/f6vqamhWU3

— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) March 25, 2023

Two Circles.Net additional claimed, “Although the alleged activity of Mr. Mehraj is from a period before his association with TCN, we are concerned about the seriousness of the charges and are monitoring the situation.”

As per the LinkedIn profile of Irfan Mehraj, he began working because the Editor of TCN in April 2020. And the case in query was registered in October of that 12 months. It implied his involvement within the case was throughout his tenure on the propaganda portal.

Moreover, ‘Two Circles.Net’ was aware about the truth that the accused was working as a ‘researcher’ with the doubtful outfit, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS) since 2016. In an in depth analysis by D-Intent Data, a web-based analysis group, it was discovered that Mehraj labored at TCN and JKCCS at similar time for just a few months. His affiliation with each the organisations overlapped for just a few months in 2020.

In March 2019 Irfan Mehraj was launched as a researcher with JKCCS in a TCN’s article and later he was employed as an Editor at TCN in 2020. So TCN already knew about Irfan Mehraj’s affiliation with JKCCS even earlier than hiring him as Editor.(3/7) pic.twitter.com/WrgyvvTrLk

— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) March 25, 2023

In a Facebook put up from June 2020, Irfan Mehraj was seen in awe of controversial activist Khurram Parvez. “You keep inspiring us every day,” he wrote.

Although ‘Two Circles.Net’ has tried to move off the accused as a ‘contributor’, its founder Kashif-ul-Huda was seen referring to Irfan Mehraj as a ‘Editor’ in considered one of his tweets.

Interestingly, Kashif had expressed his displeasure over the current verdict of the Supreme Court, which held that mere membership of an illegal organisation is sufficient to represent an offence below the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

TCN distancing itself ,nevertheless it’s founder @kaaashif fuming over the arrest of Irfan Mehraj,calls for speedy launch & even after Irfan’s terror connections doing advocacy in favor of his innocence. Both have social engagement & founder typically gave Irfan’s reference in his put up(6/7) pic.twitter.com/jMlYw8yCuk

— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) March 25, 2023

Presumably, because of this ‘Two Circles. Net’ is now making an attempt to distance itself from Irfan Mehraj. However, this didn’t cease the standard suspects from portray the accused ‘journalist’ as a sufferer on social media.

Financial fraud accused Washington Post columnist Rana Ayyub shared an Instagram put up of ‘Maktoob media’, decrying the arrest of Irfan Mehraj, and wrote, “The tyranny.”

Maktoob Media is a doubtful web site which is usually discovered spreading faux information about ‘hate crimes’ on Muslims in India, in a bid to what seems to be making a wedge amongst Indians. The web page is frequently promoted by terror apologists. Interesting, Maktoob Media Facebook web page began out as a fanpage of former Congress IT head Divya Spandana.

Suchitra Vijayan, the founding father of the George Soros-funded-Polis Project, claimed, “Kashmiri journalist IrfanMeraj was arrested by the National Investigation Agency under draconian UAPA in Srinagar today. He has been moved to Delhi. Irfan is a reporter and the founding editor of Wande Magazine.”

Kashmiri journalist @IrfanMeraj was arrested by the National Investigation Agency below draconian UAPA in Srinagar as we speak. He has been moved to Delhi.

Irfan is a reporter and the founding editor of Wande Magazine. pic.twitter.com/amvRKfe72G

— Suchitra Vijayan (@suchitrav) March 21, 2023

Former CM of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, tweeted, “While conmen are given a free run in Kashmir, journalists like Irfan Mehraj are arrested for doing their duty by speaking the truth. Draconian laws like UAPA are abused constantly to ensure that the process itself becomes the punishment.”

While conmen are given a free run in Kashmir, journalists like Irfan Mehraj are arrested for doing their obligation by talking the reality. Draconian legal guidelines like UAPA are abused continually to make sure that the method itself turns into the punishment. https://t.co/j5mwDgQ9la

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 21, 2023

The Editor of the ‘Kashmiriyat’, Qazi Shibil, wrote, “Lest we forget: Irfan Mehraj, another Kashmiri journalist was arrested today from his residence in Srinagar. He is the latest addition to Kashmiri journalists to be jailed. Three are currently jailed under PSA: Fahad Shah: 411 days Asif Sultan: 1668 days Sajad Gul: 436 days.”

Lest we neglect:

Irfan Mehraj, one other Kashmiri journalist was arrested as we speak from his residence in Srinagar.

He is the most recent addition to Kashmiri journalists to be jailed. Three are at present jailed below PSA:

Fahad Shah: 411 days
Asif Sultan: 1668 days
Sajad Gul: 436 days pic.twitter.com/IkTwxGuY5J

— Qazi Shibli (قاضی شبلی) (@QaziShibli) March 21, 2023

As anticipated, the Press Club of India, Editors Guild of India, Amnesty and Al Jazeera left no stone unturned to defend terror accused Irfan Mehraj and dub his arrest below UAPA as assault on press freedom in India.