A photo of a woman with face-covering is viral on social media platforms, claiming that the woman is a news anchor from Qatar and has expressed concern over religious freedom in India.
The image comes amidst the outrage over the derogatory remarks made by the former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal on Prophet Mohammad. The spokespersons were suspended after several Muslim countries condemned the derogatory remarks and called on the Indian embassy to express their displeasure.
However, we found that the photo is unrelated to the current controversy. The woman in the picture is a news anchor from Afghanisthan, who bowed her head while reading the news.
The caption along with the photo reads: “Qatari Anchor Fatima Shaikh on national TV expressing concern about religious freedom in India.”
(Source: Twitter/Screenshot)
Archived versions of a similar claim by other users can be accessed here, here, and here.
FactO Check:
On conducting a reverse image search, we found the picture used in an article published by New York Post on 23 May 2022. The caption reads: “TV anchor Khatereh Ahmadi bows her head while wearing a face-covering as she reads the news on TOLO NEWS, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, May 22, 2022.”
The photo has been credited to the news agency Associated Press.
(Source: New York Post/Screenshot)
According to the article, the Taliban, which is currently ruling Afghanistan after overthrowing the elected government, has ordered women news anchors to cover their faces while on Air. The Information and Culture Ministry of the Taliban had announced that the policy was “final and non-negotiable.”
We also found the photo in the archive of the Associated Press with the same details.
(Source: AP/Screenshot)
Conclusion:
Hence, it is evident from the above findings that the photo is unrelated to the current controversy and Indian Muslims.
