Media Mislabeling Causes Grief for Family of Indian Teacher Killed in Cross-Border Shelling

Mohammad Iqbal, a teacher in Kashmir, was killed in cross-border shelling, but his family now grapples with the aftermath of media allegations falsely labeling him a terrorist. As they cope with their loss, the spread of misinformation adds a painful burden to their grief.

An Indian teacher, Mohammad Iqbal, lost his life during cross-border shelling in Indian-administered Kashmir on May 7, following Indian airstrikes in retaliation for an earlier militant attack. His brother, Farooq Ahmed, expressed deep anger over the media's swift mislabeling of Iqbal as a terrorist due to his appearance, stating that it compounded their grief.

Initially, the family buried Iqbal unaware of the false narrative circulating online and on several news channels, which falsely claimed he was killed during an Indian strike on a terrorist camp. The misinformation spread rapidly, prompting Poonch police to clarify that Iqbal was a respected figure in the community with no ties to terrorism. Nonetheless, for Ahmed and his family, the damage was already done, and they are considering legal action against those responsible for the false reports.

The emotional turmoil continues as they navigate their loss; Iqbal was the sole breadwinner for his family, leaving behind two wives and eight children. Ahmed lamented, "How will they understand our pain?" as he expressed the need for society to recognize his brother's true identity as a dedicated teacher rather than a terrorist. The family struggles to cope with the dual burden of grief and stigma, highlighting the alarming impact of misinformation in conflict zones.