AltNews debunks viral image claiming Pakistani parents lock daughters' graves to prevent rape
New Delhi: An image of a padlocked grave has been circulating on social media with a false claim that parents in Pakistan are locking their daughters' graves to prevent rape. The image has been used by several major news media outlets, including The Times of India, NDTV, TV9, and News18, in their reports on rising cases of necrophilia in Pakistan.
Other media outlets including Mirror Now, ThePrint, India Today, Wion, IndiaTV, Times Now, DNA India, OpIndia Hindi, News24, ABP News, Amar Ujala, News18, Firstpost and Jagran used the same image in their respective reports. Most of these stories were from the syndicated feed of ANI.
Harris Sultan, who is the author of the book ‘The Curse of God – Why I Left Islam’, tweeted the same image and claimed that it was clicked in Pakistan which had a “horny, sexually frustrated society”. He added, “…..When you link the burqa with rape, it follows you to the grave”. A number of the news media outlets mentioned above have used Harris’ tweet in their reports.
However, a fact-check report by Alt News has found that the image is actually from a cemetery in Hyderabad, India. The cemetery is located opposite Masjid E Salar Mulk in Darab Jung Colony, Madannapet, Hyderabad. Alt News contacted a social worker named Abdul Jaleel, who visited the spot and provided photographs of the grave in question. A comparison of these images with the viral image establishes that they depict the same grave.
According to Muqtar Sahab, the Muazzin of the Masjid E Salar Mulk, the padlocked grave was constructed without the permission of the concerned committee and is located right in front of the entrance, blocking the pathway. The grille or jaali was constructed to prevent people from burying bodies without permission and to prevent others from stamping on the grave since it was right in front of the entrance. The grave belonged to an aged woman who had passed away in her seventies, and her son constructed the grille over the grave about 40 days after she had been buried.
Alt News' fact-check report concludes that the padlock had nothing to do with necrophilia or Pakistan and that the image has been circulating with false claims. The report also notes that several major news media outlets used the image in their reports without verifying the claim.
Pakistani parents lock daughters' graves to avoid rape
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) April 29, 2023
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/2vbtYavyj5#Pakistan #necrophiliacases #sexualharassment #crime pic.twitter.com/1AndHMUXlZ
Pakistani parents lock daughters' graves to avoid rape https://t.co/YarziUwwWI
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) April 29, 2023
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
