On a fateful day in January 2015, gunmen, linked to the religious extremist group ISIS, barged into the office of Charlie Hebdo and gunned down 12 people, leaving the world in a state of shock. This event blew the lid off a heated debate about freedom of speech and expression. While many debated that freedom of speech needed to be protected, some speculated as to whether a line should be drawn. But, in the social media frenzy and newsroom discussions, there were few unnoticed figures who got caught in the crossfire. Shireen Dalvi, an Urdu journalist and former editor-in-chief at an Urdu publication, Awadhnama, had rapidly made her way to the top in a span of just six years. She did all this after the untimely death of her husband with two children to take care of. But the past six months of her life, following the attack, have been a constant struggle for survival. Source: Scroll

The witch-hunt

Despite Dalvi's admission that she made an honest mistake, Urdu newspapers refused to listen to her and none carried her apology. Only English publications agreed to carry her apology and her side of the story hardly found representation elsewhere. Three FIRs were lodged against Dalvi in Mumbai and Thane for hurting the religious sentiments of a community, by "outraged" members of the community.

Urdu publications ruthlessly came after Dalvi with everything they had. The publications accompanied by Dalvi's former colleagues accused her of using the Prophet's caricature for publicity and published hordes of unverified allegations against her. The single mother of two also received multiple death threats and had to leave her house for three months before she could get interim bail and be secure enough to move back to her house.

Source: Radix

Rapid progress upset many

Many from the inner circle of the Urdu media claim that Dalvi had indeed snubbed a lot of people the wrong way on her swift journey to the top. The issue was blown out of proportion and now the Urdu media boycotted her, after Awadhnama was forced to shut down. Even former employees of Awadhnama are against her. This seems much more than a case of outrage.

Unbroken in spirit

While Dalvi has been hounded and forsaken by the Urdu media with some support only from family and friends, she is trying to make ends meet with translation jobs and a weekly column, which is not enough. She was forced to sell off her jewelry and still has a huge debt to settle.

Human rights groups have come to Dalvi's aid and are trying to raise money through the Hum aazaadiyon ke haq mein initiative.They are trying to assist her financially for paying her children's college fees, failing which they will be forced to drop out. Dalvi also aspires to start her own publication once she has raised enough funds.