A government school teacher in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district has been suspended following a Facebook post she shared in response to the recent attack in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The post, which went viral, has ignited a fierce debate around free speech, selective outrage, and the right of Indian Muslims to defend their patriotism.
Zeba Afroz, an assistant teacher at Primary School Maloghat in Chopan block, was accused of making communal remarks after she wrote, “The loyalists of the country have always been Muslims, traitors have always been Sanghis.”
She also condemned the killing of a Muslim youth, Gulfam, in Agra, using strong language.
While her now-deleted post appeared to challenge narratives that often question Muslim loyalty, right-wing groups labeled it “provocative.” Soon after screenshots of her post circulated on WhatsApp and local forums, public pressure mounted. The Basic Education Officer acted swiftly, suspending Zeba for violating service conduct rules, saying that “a teacher must maintain peace and neutrality.”
However, her suspension has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights activists and legal experts. They argue Zeba is being unfairly punished for voicing the frustrations of a community regularly demonized in public discourse.
“Muslims are called anti-national every day, and no action is taken,” said Mohammed Saifuddin, a retired teacher. “But when one of us asserts our loyalty, we’re silenced. That’s hypocrisy.”
Advocate Irfan Haider added, “Yes, government employees must uphold neutrality — but that rule must be enforced fairly. Political speech that doesn’t incite violence is still protected under the Constitution.”
Zeba, a 12-year veteran in the education department with a clean record, is reportedly devastated by the suspension. Her family says she has been overwhelmed by the sudden backlash and is struggling to comprehend how defending her community’s integrity led to professional punishment.
This incident is not isolated. In recent years, several Muslim professionals — particularly teachers, journalists, and social media users — have faced action for expressing opinions about identity, discrimination, or state violence. In many of these cases, there has been little to no accountability for similar or worse comments by others from the majority community.
Zeba’s colleagues describe her as a dedicated educator and compassionate individual, noting her students adore her. “We’ve never seen her behave in a way that would warrant this kind of treatment,” said a fellow teacher, requesting anonymity.
