Journalist Rana Ayyub Is Banned From Leaving India. Here's Why

Journalist Rana Ayyub Banned from leaving the country by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). She was stopped at the Mumbai Airport from boarding a flight to London in connection with a summon issued by Enforcement Directorate.

Ayyub took to her Twitter handle and narrated the incident. She said that the reason she was stopped from leaving the country was a lookout notice issued by ED in her name. She also alleged that ED had sent a summon for her to appear on April 1 at the last moment.

She was flying to London to attend an event scheduled for April 1 with top jurors, editors and diplomats in the world. She was also invited as a speaker at The Guardian’s office. Going to Italy on April 6 and 7 for the International Journalism Festival was also a part of her plan.

In her tweet, Ayyub wrote, “I was stopped today at the Indian immigration while I was about to board my flight to London to deliver my speech on the intimidation of journalists with @ICFJ. I was to travel to Italy right after to deliver the keynote address at the @journalismfest on the Indian democracy.”

She added, “All these events with @julieposetti @DoughtyStlntl @journalismfest have been planned and publicised all over my social media for weeks. Yet, curiously the Enforcement Directorate summons arrived in my mail much after I was stopped at the immigration. What do you fear?”