After Outcry from Human Rights Groups and Bombshell Report on Anti-Muslim Hate, Facebook’s Policy Chief in India Steps Down

Washington, DC — This morning, media outlets reported the departure of Ankhi Das, the public policy director for Facebook India, South and Central Asia. Last week, Muslim Advocates and the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism published a report on Facebook’s global, anti-Muslim problem that blasted Das and the company’s India operations for enabling hate and mob violence against Muslims in India. This departure also comes one day before Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify before Congress. The following is a statement from Muslim Advocates Public Advocacy Director Scott Simpson:

“Ankhi Das’s legacy is a trail of blood. It is unambiguously better for the world that she no longer serves as the company’s policy chief in India. 

As our report Complicit lays bare, Das herself shared anti-Muslim content on Facebook and abused her position to protect incendiary, anti-Muslim content from her political allies on the platform that directly led to the deaths of dozens of Muslims in India. India is Facebook’s largest and most lucrative market and it is outrageous that someone so bigoted, biased and reckless was allowed to steer that ship for so long. The company’s India office was also criticized by more than 40 civil rights groups, who called for Das to be placed on a leave of absence.  

However, as our report demonstrates, Facebook’s anti-Muslim problem does not stop with Ankhi Das. Facebook must do more to attempt to repair the damage and end the horror that it has unleashed upon Muslims in India and worldwide. Facebook must reform its India office by ensuring that bigotry is wholly disqualifying for employment at the company, instituting non-discrimination training and hiring staff that actually reflects the diversity of India. It is unacceptable for Facebook to simply wish Das ‘good luck’ and fail to reflect on the company’s many, many failures to protect Muslims.”

Additional Resources:

• Report: Complicit: The Human Cost of Facebook’s Disregard for Muslim Life

Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination. 

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