Journalists shouldn't be jailed for what they write, says UN spokesperson over Alt News co-founder Zubair's arrest

United Nations: In the wake of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair's arrest, a spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said that journalists should not be jailed for what they write, tweet, and say.

The spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric who was responding to a question at the daily news briefing in the United States on Zubair's arrest asserted that it is important that people be allowed to express themselves freely without the threat of any harassment.

"...In any place around the world, it is very important that people be allowed to express themselves freely, journalists be allowed to express themselves freely and without the threat of any harassment," he said.

Zubair was arrested by the Delhi Police on Monday over a 2018 tweet of a film still, which police claim has "hurt religious sentiments."

He was produced before a magistrate, who sent him to five-day police custody.

The first information report against him was based on a complaint by Delhi Police Sub-Inspector Arun Kumar, who said he was monitoring social media when he came across the March 2018 tweet after a handle named Hanuman Bhakt raised objections.

The account had posted only one message on the microblogging site until Monday evening and had only three followers.

The user had taken objection to Zubair's tweet, showing a hotel signboard with the name "Honeymoon Hotel" repainted to "Hanuman Hotel". Social media users, however, pointed out that the image Zubair had posted is from a 1983 Hindi film.

Zubair's arrest came days after the Gujarat authorities arrested Teesta Setalvad on the charges of "criminal conspiracy, forgery and placing false evidence in court to frame innocent people" in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The UN Human Rights agency has also voiced concern over the arrest and detention of social activist Setalvad and called for her immediate release.

"#India: We are very concerned by the arrest and detention of #WHRD @TeestaSetalvad and two ex-police officers and call for their immediate release. They must not be persecuted for their activism and solidarity with the victims of the 2002 #GujaratRiots," UN Human Rights tweeted on Tuesday.

A court in Ahmedabad on Sunday remanded social activist Setalvad and former state director general of police RB Sreekumar into police custody till July 2 in a case of fabricating evidence to frame innocent persons in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots.