A family in Indian-administered Kashmir faces immense grief following the death of their loved one, Mohammad Iqbal, who was wrongfully labeled a terrorist by media outlets amidst escalating regional tensions.
**Echoes of Misinformation: A Family's Grief Misrepresented in Kashmir**
**Echoes of Misinformation: A Family's Grief Misrepresented in Kashmir**
Media creates additional suffering for the family of a deceased teacher accused of being a terrorist.
Farooq Ahmed, mourning his brother’s tragic death from cross-border shelling on May 7, reflects on the double tragedy that unfolded—losing Iqbal, a respected teacher, and then witnessing the media unjustly brand him a terrorist. The shelling followed India's airstrikes in response to a militant attack that claimed numerous lives.
“Iqbal was a teacher,” stressed Ahmed. “But they saw his beard and skullcap and branded him a terrorist.” This accusation, unfounded and harmful, compounded the family's grief as they dealt with the shock of losing the family's only breadwinner.
In the aftermath of the military conflict, a disinformation war erupted, with claims circulating unchecked on social media and mainstream news channels alike. The sensationalist coverage raised concerns among media watchdogs. Manisha Pande, managing editor at Newslaundry, expressed alarm over the extent of false narratives being propagated.
The repercussions of this misinformation reached the Ahmed family quickly. As they held Iqbal's funeral, they were blindsided by WhatsApp forwards showing his image alongside disparaging claims made by news outlets. While the Poonch police later clarified the misinformation, stating that Iqbal had no links to terrorism, much harm had already been done.
“I don’t know who these channels spoke to,” Ahmed lamented, emphasizing the pain this has caused his family—now grappling with the loss of Iqbal and facing financial hardships. Although the government offered some financial compensation, it falls short of meeting their long-term needs.
Despite the police's clarifications, Ahmed feels the damage is irreversible. News channels’ swift spread of misinformation has left a cloud of doubt over Iqbal’s legacy. “How can we tell the world who my brother really was?” he asked, lamenting that for many, the label of “terrorist” now overshadows his identity as a loving family man and teacher.
As the family seeks justice for the pain inflicted by false media narratives, they remain trapped between the reality of their loss and society’s misinterpretation of it.
“Iqbal was a teacher,” stressed Ahmed. “But they saw his beard and skullcap and branded him a terrorist.” This accusation, unfounded and harmful, compounded the family's grief as they dealt with the shock of losing the family's only breadwinner.
In the aftermath of the military conflict, a disinformation war erupted, with claims circulating unchecked on social media and mainstream news channels alike. The sensationalist coverage raised concerns among media watchdogs. Manisha Pande, managing editor at Newslaundry, expressed alarm over the extent of false narratives being propagated.
The repercussions of this misinformation reached the Ahmed family quickly. As they held Iqbal's funeral, they were blindsided by WhatsApp forwards showing his image alongside disparaging claims made by news outlets. While the Poonch police later clarified the misinformation, stating that Iqbal had no links to terrorism, much harm had already been done.
“I don’t know who these channels spoke to,” Ahmed lamented, emphasizing the pain this has caused his family—now grappling with the loss of Iqbal and facing financial hardships. Although the government offered some financial compensation, it falls short of meeting their long-term needs.
Despite the police's clarifications, Ahmed feels the damage is irreversible. News channels’ swift spread of misinformation has left a cloud of doubt over Iqbal’s legacy. “How can we tell the world who my brother really was?” he asked, lamenting that for many, the label of “terrorist” now overshadows his identity as a loving family man and teacher.
As the family seeks justice for the pain inflicted by false media narratives, they remain trapped between the reality of their loss and society’s misinterpretation of it.
