Thread by @DailyScoopTV1

FACT CHECK: On May 24, a hashtag started trending on Pakistani Twitter, demanding #JusticeforSunitaMasih.

@DailyScoopTV1 verified the news and found it to be misleading and false.

#FakeNews #Pakistan #viral

The image of a 14-year-old was widely shared on social media with the claim that she was gang-raped before being forced to convert to Islam in Faisalabad.

The news was published on local media & retweeted by celebrities demanding #JusticeForSunitaMaseeh

#FakeNews #DailyScoopTV

Faisalabad's SSP told DSTV that there was no such incident reported in his area. He added that the case may have occurred in Sukkur.

We then reached out to the SSP office in Sukkur and they too denied any such incident having taken place.

#FakeNews #JusticeForSunitaMaseeh

#DSTV used advanced tracking tools to ascertain where the trend originated from. Our findings show the incident was first reported by Rahat Austin — a Pakistani Christian man, who now lives in South Korea and is known to have engaged in spreading disinformation in the past.

Last year, Austin shared pictures of burnt corpses of 3 Hindu children who died in a fire in Ghotki district, insinuating they were victims of an arson attack by Muslims. His tweet was shared by Hindutva accounts and quoted in Indian media.

The news was also misleading.

The current hashtag was shared by several renowned Pakistani journalists as well as Indian accounts without verification.

Such campaigns are designed to malign Pakistan’s image and are also counter-productive for efforts towards minorities’ rights and victims of sexual abuse.