Four Years of Injustice: Free Umar Khalid and All Political Prisoners
Today marks the fourth anniversary of the unjust imprisonment of Umar Khalid, a 37-year-old outspoken youth activist who dared to challenge the Hindu nationalist government and its policies. Umar was arrested on September 13, 2020, by the Delhi Police under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
Since that day, he has spent over four years behind bars, with only nine days of temporary bail to attend his sister's wedding. His continued incarceration is a stark reminder of the shrinking democratic space in India, where dissent is criminalized and human rights are systematically violated.
The Arrest and Accusations: A Case of Targeted Repression
Umar Khalid was accused of inciting communal violence through his speeches during the historic anti-CAA protests that swept the country in the winter of 2019. Delivered at a time when the country’s democratic fabric was being torn apart by the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), Khalid's speeches were marked by a passionate defense of the Indian Constitution, calling for religious freedom, equality, and pluralism.
However, following the 2020 Delhi pogrom—where anti-CAA protesters, particularly in Muslim-dominated areas of the national capital, were violently targeted by both the Delhi Police and Hindu nationalist mobs—the same police force registered cases against the protesters, labeling them as "conspirators of the Delhi riots." Khalid, along with over a dozen activists and student leaders, was charged under the UAPA, a law increasingly used to stifle dissent and silence opposition voices.
The Farce of Justice: Four Years Without Freedom
In court, Umar Khalid has consistently argued that his speeches were selectively edited and falsely attributed by the ruling BJP's IT Cell, with pro-right-wing media outlets amplifying these distorted claims. Yet, his arguments have largely fallen on deaf ears in a legal environment that appears more aligned with the interests of those in power than with the pursuit of justice.
The international community, including bodies like the UN, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, as well as opposition leaders and human rights defenders in India, have repeatedly called for Khalid's release. They have rightly pointed out that he and other activists are being targeted for their role in peacefully protesting against discriminatory citizenship laws. Still, Umar Khalid remains in jail—one among many victims of a state apparatus that seems intent on punishing those who dare to speak truth to power.
Marking Four Years of Injustice
Four years have passed since Umar Khalid was imprisoned. Four years in which his only crime has been his courage to speak against injustice, to stand for a more inclusive and democratic India, and to fight for the ideals enshrined in the Constitution. As we mark this grim anniversary, we are reminded that Umar Khalid is not just a prisoner; he is a symbol of resistance, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for justice in India.
We, at Hindus for Human Rights, join the call for his immediate release and demand that all political prisoners unjustly incarcerated under draconian laws be set free. As human rights defenders and citizens who believe in the democratic fabric of this country, it is our duty to stand up against such blatant injustice.
Learn More
To mark the fourth anniversary of Umar Khalid's draconian imprisonment and to demand the release of all political prisoners, we encourage you to watch "Prisoner No. 626710 is Present" ("कैदी नंबर 626710 हाज़िर है").
When? Between September 13 noon and September 15 midnight IST.
Where? https://vimeo.com/1007228760/43fdf3f639.
Let's make sure that Umar Khalid's name is not forgotten, that his struggle becomes our struggle, and that his fight for justice inspires us all to stand against tyranny.
#FreeUmarKhalid #ReleaseAllPoliticalPrisoners