Detention Solidarity

In this interview, rights activist Rona Wilson problematizes the term 'Political Prisoner,' the missing caste and religious dimensions in the mainstream discourse around the carceral system, his prolonged incarceration, and more. Do read! thewire.in/rights/rona-wi…

📢 Our 2024 Report on Hate Speech Events in India is Out! India Hate Lab (IHL) documented 1,165 in-person hate speech events targeting religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians in 2024—an alarming 74.4% increase from 2023. Download the full report: tinyurl.com/hatelab Or email us at contact@indiahatelab.com to request a copy. Key Findings 👇🏽

564 prisoners in India were living on death row at the end of 2024, the highest in over 2 decades. Access our latest Annual Statistics Report here: project39a.com/annual-statist…

@aslahtweets Thank you for all of your work!

Maktoob began in 2012 as a simple SMS service, sending out 140-character messages to 100 people daily. I was 18 at the time. What started as SMS updates evolved into a blog in 2014 and later became a website in 2016. I remember the modest beginnings—scraping together ₹6,000 for the domain and server fees, an amount we managed to save from a journalism workshop for graduate students. It took us four years from inception to establish a website. Even as a blog, our stories reached millions. One story, about JNU student Najeeb’s father, was shared by over 600,000 people on Facebook. Before launching our website, we published nearly 1,000 stories, many of which garnered unimaginable reach and engagement. Readers were our strength and foundation. Since then, we’ve published over 20,000 stories, including videos. We’ve broken impactful stories, spoken to thousands, and traveled to hundreds places. Our journalism has always been deeply rooted in the lives of people. Their struggles, resilience, losses, dreams, aspirations, and grievances have been at the heart of what we do. I remember the day we visited a Muslim youth acquitted after spending 13 years in jail under a draconian law. He told us that, despite living in the city center, no journalist had visited his home in all those years. “You’re the first journalist to come here in 13 years and ask what really happened,” he said. I remember a Muslim female student who fought for her dignity and self-respect telling our deputy editor, “This is a bold media. You always ask different questions, not like the others.” I remember a student from the Rohingya community—one of the most persecuted communities in the world—handing Maktoob a sealed envelope containing a letter and a subscription amount. We feel immense gratitude that people trust Maktoob and rely on us to document and narrate the stories that matter to them. We are heartened when people approach us to ensure happenings in their communities are recorded truthfully or to express their perspectives on the world around them. Yet, we remain aware of our limitations. Our audience is still small. Our paid subscribers are few. Even the volume of stories we publish, though significant for a small newsroom, falls short of our aspirations. We want to grow. We want our content to reach millions, setting a new trend for journalism rooted in truth-telling and accountability. Support us in this journey. Strengthen Maktoob by following us on social media. Follow our latest venture, Maktoob Hindi, and help amplify our journalism. Maktoob Hindi on X: @maktoobhindi Maktoob Hindi on Instagram: instagram.com/maktoob_hindi?… Maktoob Hindi on YouTube: @maktoobhindi?si=VmZHfXJ3xeIF_NAg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@maktoobhindi?… Maktoob Hindi on Facebook: facebook.com/share/1GHxwdJn… Maktoob on X: @MaktoobMedia Maktoob on YouTube: @maktoobmedia?si=mMbRKceEgB70PWba" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@maktoobmedia?… Maktoob on Facebook: facebook.com/share/15DQV2WU… Maktoob on Instagram: instagram.com/maktoobmedia?i… Photo: Maktoob workshop in 2016—the event where we earned a profit of ₹6,000, which we used to purchase our website domain and server. Pictured: me and Maktoob co-founder Naseel.

A 55-year-old farmer, Resham Singh from Pahuwind village in Tarn Taran district, allegedly ended his life by consuming poison at the Shambhu border, where farmers have been protesting for nearly a year. maktoobmedia.com/india/farmer-a…

Must read. While investigating the "anti-Maoist encounter", the reporter discovered the body of a man and more cause to be suspicious of the the police's version of the events. Also, fantastic photos. scroll.in/article/107765…

The Bombay High Court while granting them bail took note of their long incarceration, and the fact that the trial is not likely to be completed any time soon. Both Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale have been in jail since 2018. (2/5)

We start the year with some good news! Sudhir Dhawale and Rona Wilson who were arrested under the draconian anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case were released on bail on 8th January #BhimaKoregaon #BK16 1/5

Abhorrent!

There was barely a whimper from the people of Maharashtra when a BJP MLA who frequently threatens murderous assault & violence against Muslims was made a cabinet minister Read @kunalpurohit's #fieldnotes on hate, indifference & living in a deluded state article-14.stck.me/post/663692/Fi…

1/ This year begins with stories of resistance, heartbreak, and resilience. In The Polis Project’s latest newsletter, Asst. Politics Editor @aritry reflects on documenting these times of turmoil. 🌐 Subscribe and support independent journalism: thepolisprojectinc.substack.com

Finally some good news! After six and a half years of incarceration in India, researcher Rona Wilson and publisher Sudhir Dhawale Get Bail. My book #TheIncarcerations has full story of how evidence was implanted on Rona's computer #FreeBK16 ⤵️ thewire.in/law/rona-wilso…

indianexpress.com/article/india/… The story of Mukesh is the story of Bastar where the Indian state has been waging a war against adivasis and their ecology for decades. But there is hardly any reporting or the uproar around the brutalisation of their lives in the national 'mainstream'.

Bail after 6.5 years of jail. Trial not even started. I guess one should be much oblidged. Khair welcome Rona and Sudhir to this side of incarceration.

WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH MANISH AZAD & CONDEMN THE BRUTAL MURDER OF MUKESH CHANDRAKAR! They have been targeted as social workers & journalists. These are tactics of spreading terror & suppressing dissent! #RepealUAPA #FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners Read: thewirehindi.com/293383/mukesh-…

As the years drag on, I do worry about my mother, my brother, and the world outside. I wonder if my presence could have made any difference, or if I have missed something that can never be recovered. Sharjeel Imam writes from Tihar jail maktoobmedia.com/opinion/prison…

Out Now: We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new project, Watch The Resistance. The project will follow social movements and communities in resistance across India, and globally. Read the latest piece ‘THE ELGAR PRISONERS’ LATEST HUNGER STRIKE MARKS A MOMENTOUS VICTORY FOR PRISON RIGHTS’ by Prashant Rahi. Read: thepolisproject.com/read/the-elgar…

Facing family neglect and a threat of destitution, mentally ill persons are forced to remain confined in institutions despite being fit to leave–this is when states are legally obligated to enable community living–but there appears to be no incentive?! Very important analysis:

Delighted to be published in @the_hindu ! I explain with exclusive details how the Yogi govt in UP has, through changes in the anti-conversion law, empowered vigilante groups & given unhindered powers to police to criminalize religious gatherings & inter-faith relationships.

Delhi Riots: Delhi High Court grants bail to two men citing delay in trial report by @BhaviniSri24 barandbench.com/news/delhi-hig…