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Qazi Jahangir Qasmi is detained in relation to his religious activity. 

On June 20, 2021, authorities arrested Qazi Jahangir Qasmi, an Islamic cleric and employee at the Islamic Da’wah Centre, after accusing him and his colleague of forcibly converting thousands to Islam, including students with hearing disabilities, arranging marriages for converts, and receiving funding from abroad. He was charged with conspiracy, cheating and outraging religious feelings as well as under sections of Uttar Pradesh’s Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.

On June 25, 2021, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Qasmi to investigate allegations of foreign funding and money laundering.

In September 2021, a Lucknow court accepted an application from the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police to charge Qasmi and other involved in the case with “conspiracy to commit offences” waging war against the state (Sec. 121A IPC) and "concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war" (Sec. 123 IPC).

Related Cases: Umar Guatam

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Umar Gautam is detained in relation to his religious activity.

On June 20, 2021, authorities arrested Gautam - a Muslim convert, Islamic scholar, and founder of the Islamic Da’wah Centre - and his colleague after he and his organization were accused of forcibly converting thousands to Islam, including students with hearing disabilities, arranging marriages for converts, and receiving funding from abroad.  He was charged with conspiracy, cheating and outraging religious feelings as well as under sections of Uttar Pradesh’s Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.

On June 25, 2021, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a case under the 2002 Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Gautam to investigate allegations of foreign funding and money laundering.

In September 2021, a Lucknow court accepted an application from the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police to charge Gautam and other involved in the case with “conspiracy to commit offences” waging war against the state (Sec. 121A IPC) and "concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war" (Sec. 123 IPC).

On February 11, 2022, Gautam was granted bail in one of the cases against him. However, he was forced to remain in prison for other pending charges.

Gautam is believed to be held in Lucknow Jail.

Gautam's family has also been targeted, including his son Abdullah Gautam who was arrested in November 2021 for his alleged involvement in conversions. 

Gautam is married with two sons and one daughter.

Related Cases: Qazi Jahangir Qasmi, Abdullah Gautam

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Ishrat Jehan was detained for protesting religious freedom conditions.

On February 26, 2020, authorities arrested Jehan, a former councilor, after accusing her of urging violence against police at a protest site in Khureji Khas. Jehan, however, was targeted for leading peaceful protests opposing the religious discriminatory Citizen Amendment Act (CAA).  At the time, police reportedly charged her under first information report (FIR) 44/2020 with attempted murder and rioting.

On March 21, 2020, Jehan was granted bail. However, police arrested her immediately after her release. She was charged under FIR 59/2020 with new offenses under the IPC, 1967 Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after authorities accused her of inciting communal violence during the 2020 Delhi riots. Charges include but are not limited to rioting (Sec. 147 IPC), rioting with a deadly weapon (Sec. 148 IPC), murder (Sec. 302 IPC), attempted murder (Sec. 307 IPC), sedition (Sec. 124A IPC), "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony" (Sec. 153A IPC), unlawful activities (Sec. 13 UAPA), terrorist acts (Sec. 16 UAPA), raising funds for terrorist acts (Sec. 17 UAPA), and conspiracy (Sec. 18 UAPA).

In mid-June 2020, Jehan was granted interim bail to marry her fiancé.  She returned to prison on June 19, 2020.

In December 2020, Jehan told a court that she had been assaulted by fellow prisoners on multiple occasions.

On March 15, 2022, the Karkardooma Sessions Court in Delhi granted Jehan bail.

On March 16, 2022, Jehan was released from jail. 

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