Judge Tabassum Khan Sentences 14 Men to Life Imprisonment
A Muslim woman judge in India has received death threats after delivering a verdict in a mob lynching case.
Judge Tabassum Khan sentenced 14 men to life imprisonment for the 2022 killing of Nazeer Ahmed.
The additional district and sessions judge announced the verdict on June 12 in Madhya Pradesh.
The court convicted the men of murder, attempted murder, rioting and wrongful restraint.
Police said Ahmed was legally transporting cattle to a livestock market when a mob stopped his vehicle.
The attackers assaulted him and beat him to death.
The life sentences were announced after the completion of the trial.
Online Campaign Targets Judge’s Religious Identity
Reports said a coordinated online campaign began shortly after the court announced its decision.
Right-wing extremist influencers allegedly targeted Judge Khan because of her Muslim identity.
Several abusive videos and threatening messages appeared on social media.
Some posts used artificial intelligence-generated content to attack the judge.
The campaign accused Khan of acting against the convicted men because they were Hindu.
However, much of the online criticism focused on her religion rather than the court’s legal findings.
Protesters also reportedly burned an effigy of the judge following the verdict.
Family members of the convicted men gathered outside the courtroom and protested against the decision.
They allegedly attempted to block the police convoy taking the prisoners to jail.
The protesters claimed that the men were being punished for protecting cows.
Judicial Groups Support Judge as Police Increase Security
The scale of the threats has raised serious concerns about judicial independence and the safety of judges in India.
Leading judicial organisations have expressed support for Judge Khan.
Authorities have also provided her with police protection.
Former Indian judge Markandey Katju said court rulings should be assessed on legal grounds.
He said a judge’s religious identity should not influence public discussion about a verdict.
The incident has renewed concerns over online hate campaigns, religious targeting and threats against members of the judiciary.
