Greta Thunberg is Not Arrested Nor Under Investigation
The Claim
Greta Thunberg was arrested by Indian Police and is under investigation for tweeting support of Indian farmers’ protests and sharing a toolkit that calls for protests.
News posted on
Emerging story
News that Greta Thunberg is under arrest and being investigated are circulating on social media. The claims came after she tweeted her support of the Indian farmers’ protests and shared a toolkit for those who want to help the farmers, however, she was later accused of sharing the toolkit to incite violence and promote enmity. Posts are circulating on social media that climate change activist Greta Thunberg has been arrested by Indian police while other posts claim she is under criminal investigation, this comes after she tweeted her solidarity with Indian farmers. A news article also published the news and said that her arrest charges are “criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity”. Other articles headlines that “Greta Thunberg Under Serious Criminal Investigation After Accidentally Revealing Plan For Violent Protest” referring to a toolkit she had shared on her Twitter account which reveals how supporters can help the farmers cause. The initial toolkit instructions were for a protest that had already passed, Thunberg later updated the toolkit for one that calls for protests on 13 and 14 February.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar's investigation didn't find the news on any reputable source. Thunberg’s representatives didn't release any statements, she also continued tweeting the following days and her social media presence appears normal. She is also not being investigated for sharing the toolkit, as Praveer Ranjan, the special commissioner of police for Delhi, responded to reports that a case had been filed against Thunberg.
He stated: that “we haven’t named anybody in the FIR [first information report], it’s only against the creators of the toolkit which is a matter of investigation and Delhi Police will be investigating that case.” It appears that such fake news is in efforts to suppress support for the farmers by inciting fear of arrests and investigations. Despite many threats from social media users as well as the Delhi Police investigation, Thunberg tweeted: that she still supports farmers’ peaceful protests and that “no amount of hate, threats or violations of human rights will ever change that." Farmers have said they will not stand down their protests until the government agrees to repeal a series of laws that were passed last year.
The ongoing farmer’s protest since November 2020 against laws that would remove government subsidies of farmers escalated with news of police violence, cutting access to the internet, and impeding journalism. A few public figures including Rihanna have spoken out and received much backlash from Modi supporters, including burning effigies.
