Arfa Khanum, senior editor at The Wire, receives threats after being doxed on social media

Arfa Khanum Sherwani, an award-winning journalist and senior editor at The Wire, has reported a wave of online abuse after her personal phone number and email address were leaked on social media.

The leak, allegedly carried out by an account known for similar attacks, has led to a deluge of Islamophobic threats and derogatory messages, particularly on WhatsApp.

The abuse began shortly after Sherwani made social media posts urging peace and de-escalation amid rising tensions and violence between India and Pakistan, and the backlash quickly escalated into a coordinated hate campaign.

The journalist, who has consistently advocated for dialogue and restraint in matters of cross-border conflict, found herself the target of hostile messages accusing her of sympathising with Pakistan due to her religious identity.

Screenshots shared by Sherwani revealed threatening and defamatory messages filled with communal slurs and violent undertones, with some attackers questioning her patriotism and professional integrity. The online harassment appears to have been fuelled by a broader campaign aimed at silencing journalists who express views that diverge from dominant nationalist narratives.

The handle allegedly responsible for the leak, “Hindutva Knight,” operated by Chandan Sharma, has previously been linked to similar doxxing incidents, including one targeting journalist Rana Ayyub. In both cases, personal information was made public, triggering a wave of threatening communications designed to intimidate and silence.

While social media platforms have been urged to act against such coordinated harassment, the recurrence of these attacks highlights the growing risks faced by journalists, especially women and minorities, who critique government policies or advocate peace.