A UAE-based employee, working for a private company, has had to lose his job for posting an abusive tweet on social media targetting journalist Rana Ayyub.
According to a report by Gulf News, 31-year-old employee identified as Bincylal Balachandran, from Kerala, was working in Alpha Paint in Dubai, a sister company of National Paints in Sharjah, since 2015.
Ayyub had highlighted Balachandran’s offensive message on the microblogging site Twitter. This prompted some of her followers to report the matter to his employers in Dubai.
A customer service employee, Balachandran had sent an abusive message with sexual overtones to the Indian journalist on Facebook messenger.
Ayyub’s message on Twitter had said, “Just a sample of the filth I receive on my Facebook page. Time to name and shame this pervert.”
Just a sample of the filth i receive on my facebook page. Time to name and shame this pervert pic.twitter.com/e6xeA019JF
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) April 6, 2017
Shadi Al Refai, human resource manager of the company, said, “We verified the accuracy of the information and checked on the name of the man. On April 8, at 8 am the termination order of Balachandran issued.”
He was summoned by the management, where he confessed to sending the message.
Al Refai said, “When we checked on his Facebook account, we saw the abusive message which was sent to that lady in addition to offensive posts against Islam.”
Ayyub plans to file an FIR in Delhi on Tuesday.
“I think it is brave of them to do this without even me filing an FIR…and without even getting in touch with me… He could do this at his workplace tomorrow if he doesn’t like someone. This is a lesson for even others who write such messages,” Gulf News quoted her as saying.
Ayyub also took to Twitter to announce the development.
She said, “UAE govt has revoked Bincy Lal’s visa and r deporting him back to India. A lesson for those who harass us, will drag you out of ur ratholes (sic).”
UAE govt has revoked Bincy Lal's visa and r deporting him back to India. A lesson for those who harass us, will drag you out of ur ratholes
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) April 10, 2017