A government school teacher in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district has been suspended after a Facebook post she shared in response to the recent terror attack in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam went viral.
The teacher, Zeba Afroz, is accused of making communal remarks, but many believe her post has been misinterpreted and that she is being unfairly targeted for defending the patriotism of Indian Muslims.
Zeba, an assistant teacher at Primary School Maloghat in Chopan block, wrote in her now-deleted post: “The loyalists of the country have always been Muslims, traitors have always been Sanghis.” She also condemned the killing of a youth named Gulfam in Agra using strong language.
While her post aimed to counter the narrative that routinely questions Muslim loyalty, it sparked outrage among some right-wing circles who labeled it “provocative.”
Screenshots of her post circulated widely on WhatsApp and local community forums, leading to public outcry and calls for her dismissal. Responding quickly, the Basic Education Officer suspended Zeba under service conduct rules, stating, “A teacher must maintain peace and neutrality. Such remarks violate service norms.”
The suspension has ignited a wider debate. Civil rights activists and members of the Muslim community argue that Zeba’s post was a political expression, not hate speech. Many have raised concerns over what they see as selective enforcement of rules, pointing to numerous instances where hate-filled posts by others have gone unpunished.
“Muslims are called anti-national every day, and no action is taken,” said retired teacher Mohammed Saifuddin. “But when we assert our patriotism, we are branded communal. This is hypocrisy.”
Legal experts echoed these concerns. Advocate Irfan Haider noted, “Government employees must remain neutral, but the rule must apply to everyone. Political speech is constitutionally protected — as long as it doesn’t incite violence.”
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com. Read the full story here.