Eminent writers, filmmakers and activists seek release of Umar Khalid, others
New Delhi: Over 150 eminent writers, filmmakers and activists, including Amitav Gosh, Naseeruddin Shah and Rajmohan Gandhi have demanded the release of student activist Umar Khalid and other anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) activists.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Umar Khalid has been in prison since his arrest in 2020.
The filmmakers and activists in a joint statement said, “Umar Khalid and many others like him are in prison charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), without bail and without trial for years. Not because they motivated or instigated anybody to commit any act of violence, but because they stood in defence of peace and justice and advocated non-violent dissidence against unjust laws.”
The statement asserted these activists, who were arrested in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots, were targeted because they raised their voices against the government. “A predatory regime first brought in a law that discriminated against Muslims vis-a-vis the right to Indian citizenship, and then selectively persecuted those who raised their voices against this measure, especially if they were Muslim”, it stated.
It further noted “Sharjeel Imam, a bright scholar of history and student activist, in fact has expressed that while he did know that dissenters run the risk of arrest under this regime, he did not expect to be accused of “terrorism”, especially for riots that occurred a month after he had already been arrested. The list goes on to include Meeran Haider, Athar Khan, Shifa ur Rahman and others”.
“This repeated denial of bail and prolonged incarceration without trial, in fact, is one of the most distressing aspects of Umar Khalid’s case and that of the others in this case. This is despite the fact that the high court in 2021, while granting bail to three of the accused, had made strong observations about the arguments put forth by the state,” they said.
Historians Ramchandra Goha, Romila Thapar, US professors Gayatri Chakravarty and Akeel Bilgrami, Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey and noted human rights activist Harsh Mander are among the signatories to the statement which sought the release of Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Khalid Saif, Meeran Haider, Athar Khan and Shifa-ur Rahman.
