X has withheld the account @Muslim_ITCell in India following a legal demand reportedly made under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The account, which had around 24,000 followers, had been active on the platform since October 2023.
Section 69A empowers the Central Government to block public access to online information on specific grounds. These include the sovereignty and integrity of India, the defence of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, and preventing incitement to cognisable offences related to these.
The account remains visible to users outside India, while access within the country has been restricted. This suggests the restriction is geographically limited rather than a complete suspension.
According to the admin of @Nawzentra, Muslim_ITCell was neither anti-Modi nor a supporter of Rahul Gandhi. The admin also said the page was not funded by any political party and did not promote left-wing or right-wing ideologies.
The admin said the account focused on issues highlighting injustices faced by the Muslim community and other minorities, and raised concerns about government policies, bringing out minority-related issues to the attention of citizens and political leaders.
The withholding has drawn reactions from several X users.
In a post on its official handle, @Nawzentra said Muslim_ITCell would challenge the blocking order through legal means. The statement read:
“The Narendra Modi government’s blocking order against @Muslim_ITCell will not go unchallenged.
We are exhausting every available legal avenue to restore our access in India.
We have formally written to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology demanding further details, clarification and the grounds for this blocking order. We are awaiting its response.
To everyone who raised their voice, posted in our support and stood firmly with Muslim IT Cell: we see your solidarity, we value it, and we are grateful.
We will come back. Inshallah.”
Other users raised concerns about transparency and citizens’ freedom of expression.
Community leaders have demanded for a clear explanation and urged authorities to stop what they described as “arbitrary censorship,” alleging the page was blocked for criticising the government.
