Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Video of Lawyers’ Protest Misleadingly Linked to India Waqf Bill Demonstrations
A video clip circulating online falsely claims to depict protests against the Waqf Board Bill in India, which modifies the governance of Muslim-donated properties. While demonstrations did occur across India following the parliamentary passage of the Waqf bill, this particular video actually shows lawyers protesting proposed revisions to a separate law concerning their profession. The footage, initially reported as showing lawyers demonstrating against a law potentially restricting their right to strike, has been misrepresented in social media posts to suggest wider unrest related to the Waqf legislation.
Social media posts, including one on Facebook from April 5, 2025, falsely attribute the video to protests against the Waqf Board Bill. The Hindi caption accompanying the video states, “Lawyers are protesting in large numbers by blocking the roads against the Waqf Board Bill!! The slogan of the lawyers is, ‘dictatorship will not run on the strength of MP, take back your devious law’.”
The video presents a somewhat blurred view of lawyers raising fists and clapping while chanting in unison.
Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, captured on April 15, 2025
The footage has also been shared across multiple platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Its resurgence in circulation followed the Indian parliament’s approval of the Waqf Bill. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration contends this legislation will enhance transparency within the Waqf boards.
These Waqf boards are significant landholders in India. Approximately two dozen such organizations oversee around 900,000 acres (364,000 hectares) of land, constituting a multi-billion-dollar real estate portfolio, ranking them among the largest landowners alongside entities like the railways and defense forces.
Following the bill’s passage, Indian news sources documented protests in various regions. Opposition parties have voiced criticism, accusing the government of prioritizing “polarizing politics” at the expense of India’s substantial Muslim minority, estimated at 200 million.
However, contrary to claims, the video actually captures a demonstration concerning a different legislative matter.
Video Originates from Unrelated Lawyers’ Rally
A reverse image search conducted on Google, utilizing keyframes from the video in question, led to the same footage appearing on the YouTube channel of HNP News, published on February 22, 2025.
The Hindi caption accompanying the YouTube video reads: “Hundreds of thousands of lawyers blocked the roads of Delhi? The Modi government was shocked to see this! Watch it quickly!”
The relevant visuals in question are visible in the YouTube footage after the 1 minute 36 second mark.
The video clearly depicts lawyers holding signs bearing slogans such as, “Dictatorship won’t work” and “Take back Advocate (Amendment) Bill 2025.” Chants of “The government will have to withdraw this devious law,” can also be heard.
Screenshot comparing the video in the misleading post (Left) with the YouTube video (Right)
Nitin Ahlawat, a former head of the Tis Hazari District Courts who participated in the rally, confirmed to AFP that the demonstration concerned proposed amendments to the Advocates Act and was unrelated to the Waqf reforms protests.
The Indian news website The Hindu also provided coverage of these lawyers’ protests on February 18.
The Ministry of Law and Justice stated the amendments aimed to modernize the legal profession and education, aligning them with international standards.
However, on February 22, the government announced the shelving of the bill following objections from lawyers who argued it infringed upon their rights to strike or abstain from court proceedings.
AFP has previously debunked other instances of misinformation concerning the Waqf reforms.