Introduction
When the COVID-19 pandemic shook the world, countless headlines emerged pointing fingers, sowing fear, and fuelling division. Among the loudest accusations in India was the targeting of the Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi. The media was quick to label the congregation as a "super-spreader" event. But now that the courts have cleared Tablighi Jamaat of all charges, one can’t help but ask: why didn’t the media report the truth with the same energy as it did the accusations?
The Tablighi Jamaat Controversy
In March 2020, a religious congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat was held at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi. Soon after, media outlets unleashed a storm of stories claiming that this event was a major source of coronavirus transmission in India. Some news channels went so far as to paint an entire community in a bad light, spreading sensational headlines without verified data.
What followed was an unprecedented media trial, fuelling communal tension and sparking discrimination across the country. But where was the journalistic responsibility when the courts later found these allegations unsubstantiated and baseless?
The Court's Verdict: No Proof, No Crime
In a scathing judgement, various Indian courts — including the Bombay High Court and Delhi courts — pointed out that there was no concrete evidence proving that Tablighi Jamaat attendees were responsible for spreading COVID-19. In fact, the courts noted that the government and media acted irresponsibly and that many foreigners were falsely accused and wrongfully detained.
Yet, this critical judgement received very little coverage in mainstream media. The same channels that ran hour-long prime-time debates against the Tablighi Jamaat barely whispered when the truth came out.
Why Was the Truth Ignored?
This silence raises serious concerns about media bias and selective reporting. The truth is, sensationalism sells. Negative stories stir emotion, fear, and ultimately, higher viewership. But when the truth is less dramatic, it often goes underreported or ignored altogether.
Moreover, it reflects the media's tendency to follow narratives that align with political agendas or social divisions rather than prioritising factual reporting. In this case, the truth about the Tablighi Jamaat didn’t suit the storyline that had already been sold to the public.
The Impact of Misinformation
The damage caused by the false narrative around Tablighi Jamaat wasn’t just reputational — it was deeply personal and societal. Innocent individuals faced arrests, discrimination, and humiliation. Some foreign nationals were even stranded in detention for months, despite doing nothing unlawful.
Communities were stigmatised, and Islamophobia saw a dangerous rise across social media platforms and public discourse. All of this, fuelled by media silence, led to a blatant miscarriage of justice in the public eye.
Responsibility and Reckoning
Media in a democracy holds immense power — and with it comes enormous responsibility. When the media chooses to highlight one side of the story and conveniently ignore the other, it betrays public trust. The Tablighi Jamaat case serves as a stark reminder of how dangerous biased journalism and clickbait culture can be.
There must be accountability. Apologies, corrections, and responsible reporting are essential in repairing the damage done. But unfortunately, most media houses have neither acknowledged their mistake nor made amends.
The Need for Ethical Journalism
This episode calls for a renewed commitment to ethical journalism. It’s time for media outlets to introspect and prioritise facts over fiction, truth over narrative. The Tablighi Jamaat was wronged not just by the courts of law but more so by the court of public opinion — shaped by irresponsible and often toxic media coverage.
Conclusion
The Tablighi Jamaat incident is not just a case study in media misreporting — it's a lesson in what happens when truth takes a back seat to sensationalism. When the courts declared the accusations as baseless, the media should have led with that news. But their silence speaks volumes.
As consumers of news, we must demand honest journalism. As a society, we must ensure that truth always finds its way to the surface — no matter how inconvenient it may be to the narrative.
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