Kerala: 40 Organisations expressed solidarity with Maktoob and journalist following police action over an article exposing anti-Muslim bias

At least 40 organizations, including civil society groups and student movements, released a joint statement expressing solidarity with Maktoob and freelance journalist Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek. Sydeek was booked by Kerala Police for his story on Maktoob, which highlighted anti-Muslim bias by Kerala Police.

On October 31, the police filed a case against Sydeek in connection with a report he wrote for Maktoob. The article, published on October 30, stated that in the aftermath of the blasts in Ernakulam district, the police detained several Muslim men for hours. The police in the Kozhikode Rural district booked Sydeek under Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with "giving provocation with the intent to cause a riot."

On November 16, the police summoned and interrogated Aslah Kayyalakkath, the editor of Maktoob, in connection with the case. A day later, Sydeek was brought in for questioning at the Vadakara police station, where his phone and SIM card were seized. Maktoob's deputy editor, Shaheen Abdulla, was also questioned by the police.