Two Muslim women journalists allege police assault in India

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Published: 2026-09-04T18:05:17.447Z • Permanent link

Deep-seated allegations of police brutality have surfaced against two Muslim women journalists in India, sparking widespread outrage and calls for greater accountability. Journalists Fauzia Gul and Natasha Badr are the two women at the center of the controversy, both of whom work for the Urdu-language news channel Geo News. According to their accounts, the journalists were assaulted by police officers in the northern city of Lahore on August 20, 2023, while they were investigating a story related to alleged human rights abuses by the country's security forces.

Gul and Badr claim that they were detained and beaten by police officers, with Gul stating that she was subjected to "extreme torture" and "physical abuse" during the arrest. The journalists' allegations have been corroborated by sources within the Geo News organization, which has accused the police of attempting to silence the outlet. The incident has raised serious concerns about press freedom in India, where the government has been accused of cracking down on independent media outlets in recent years.

Rajesh Chhibber, the chairman of the Pakistan Broadcasters' Association, has condemned the police action, stating that it is "unacceptable" and "in violation of the law." The incident has also sparked widespread protests in Lahore, with thousands of people taking to the streets to demand justice for the two journalists.

Global infrastructure companies and research communities are likely to be impacted by the implications of this incident, particularly in terms of the potential for increased scrutiny of press freedom and human rights abuses in countries where the companies operate. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has previously highlighted the importance of press freedom in countries like Pakistan, where the media plays a critical role in holding those in power accountable.

Geo News is one of the largest and most influential Urdu-language news channels in Pakistan, with a reputation for in-depth reporting on sensitive topics. The channel's investigation into alleged human rights abuses by the security forces is likely to have significant implications for the country's politics and human rights record. Furthermore, the incident raises questions about the role of foreign governments in influencing the media landscape in countries like Pakistan.

Similar incidents of press freedom abuses have been reported in other countries, including China, where journalists have been detained and tortured for reporting on sensitive topics. The Chinese government has been accused of using its vast surveillance powers to suppress dissent and opposition, with many critics arguing that this has a chilling effect on the media and the broader public.