Gender: Male
Perpetrator: India
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: January/28/2020
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Hate Speech Illicit Financing Murder & Attempted Murder Public Disorder Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Sharjeel Imam is detained for protesting religious freedom conditions.
On January 28, 2020, authorities arrested Imam, a Muslim student activist, after authorities accusing him of inciting communal violence through speeches made in December 2019 and January 2020 at peaceful protests opposing the religious discriminatory Citizen Amendment Act (CAA). At the time, five different states had reportedly pressed various charges against Imam, including sedition (Sec. 124-A), “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), and several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
On August 25, 2020, authorities charged Imam under FIR 59/2020 with new offenses under the IPC, 1967 Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after authorities accused him 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).
On June 26, 2020, several UN experts called for the release of Imam and other protestors, saying that their arrests seem "clearly designed to send a chilling message...that criticism of government policies will not be tolerated."
In July 2020, it was reported that Imam tested positive for COVID-19 while in detention.
On February 4, 2023, a Delhi court discharged Imam in the December 2019 violence case. However, he remained in prison as he has yet to receive bail in other cases.
Imam has reportedly been assaulted by fellow inmates while imprisoned.
Throughout his detention, Imam has been granted bail in multiple cases; however, additional outstanding charges have prevented him from being released.
Related Cases: Umar Khalid, Shifa ur-Rehman, Natasha Narwal, Meeran Haider, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jehan, Gulfisha Fatima, Devangana Kalita, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha
Photo provided by Justice For All
USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck, Tweet, August 22, 2023
"Delhi court discharges Sharjeel Imam, Asif Tanha, and nine others in 2019 Jamia violence case" Scroll.in
"JNU student Sharjeel Imam alleges assaulted in jail, called a terrorist" The Indian Express
"2 Years of Delhi Riots: What's the Status of UAPA-Accused Named in FIR 59?" The Quint
"Activist Sharjeel Imam granted bail by Allahabad HC in anti-CAA speech case" Scroll.in
"Six Months Since Delhi Riots, Delhi Police Continue to Enjoy Impunity Despite Rights Violations" Amnesty International
"JNU PhD scholar Sharjeel Imam now arrested for Delhi riots" The Indian Express
"Sharjeel Imam Sent to 4-Day Police Custody in Delhi Riots Case" The Quint
"JNU’s Sharjeel Imam tests positive for Covid-19 in Guwahati jail" Hindustan Times
"UN experts urge India to release protest leaders" UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
"India: End Bias in Prosecuting Delhi Violence" Human Rights Watch
"From IIT-B to JNU to Shaheen Bagh: Who is Sharjeel Imam?" Hindustan Times
USCIRF Legislation Factsheet: The Citizenship (Amendment) Act in India February 2020
Gender: Male
Current Location: Tihar Jail, Delhi
Perpetrator: India
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: April/1/2020
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Hate Speech Illicit Financing Murder & Attempted Murder Public Disorder Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Meeran Haider is detained for protesting religious freedom conditions.
On April 1, 2020, authorities arrested Haider, a Muslim student activist, after accusing him of inciting communal violence during the 2020 Delhi riots. Haider was targeted for leading peaceful protests opposing the religiously discriminatory Citizen Amendment Act (CAA). Authorities charged Haider under FIR 59/2020 with offenses under the IPC, 1967 Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). 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).
On June 26, 2020, several UN experts called for the release of Haider and other protestors, saying that their arrests seem "clearly designed to send a chilling message...that criticism of government policies will not be tolerated."
Related Cases: Umar Khalid, Shifa ur-Rehman, Sharjeel Imam, Natasha Narwal, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jehan, Gulfisha Fatima, Devangana Kalita, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha
Photo provided by Justice For All
USCIRF Press Release: USCIRF Reiterates Concerns on Religious Freedom in India, Calls for Release of Religious Prisoners of Conscience October 3, 2023
"Marriage, assault by inmates & 2 years in jail later, why court granted bail to Ishrat Jahan" The Print
"2 Years of Delhi Riots: What's the Status of UAPA-Accused Named in FIR 59?" The Quint
Amnesty International, Tweet, September 14, 2020
"UN experts urge India to release protest leaders" UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
"Delhi Riots: How The Police Is Using FIR 59 To Imprison Students And Activists Indefinitely" HuffPost
"India: End Bias in Prosecuting Delhi Violence" Human Rights Watch
"India: Protestors arrested for opposing bigoted law" Amnesty International
"Delhi violence: Jamia student arrested for allegedly conspiring to incite communal riots" Scroll.in
"Six Months Since Delhi Riots, Delhi Police Continue to Enjoy Impunity Despite Rights Violations" Amnesty International
USCIRF Legislation Factsheet: The Citizenship (Amendment) Act in India February 2020
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: India
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: February/26/2020
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Assault & Battery Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Hate Speech Illicit Financing Murder & Attempted Murder Public Disorder Terrorism Theft & Robbery Treason & Sedition
Khalid Saifi is detained for protesting religious freedom conditions.
On February 26, 2020, authorities arrested Saifi, founder of the United Against Hate organization, after accusing him of urging violence against police near Masjid Wali Galli in Khureji Khas. Saifi, however, was targeted for leading peaceful protests opposing the religious discriminatory Citizen Amendment Act (CAA). At the time, police reportedly charged him under first information report (FIR) 44/2020 with "murder, assaulting a public officer, and rioting" under the IPC and the 1959 Arms Act. Saifi was reportedly tortured while in police custody, suffering fractures in both legs.
On March 21, 2020, authorities charged Saifi under FIR 59/2020 with new offenses under the IPC, 1967 Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after authorities accused him 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).
On June 6, 2020, authorities filed more charges against Saifi under FIR 101/2020, accusing him of rioting, assaulting a police officer, and armed robbery under the Penal Code, PDPP and Arms Act.
On June 26, 2020, several UN experts called for the release of Saifi and other protestors, saying that their arrests seem "clearly designed to send a chilling message...that criticism of government policies will not be tolerated."
Throughout his detention, Saifi has been granted bail in multiple cases; however, additional outstanding charges have prevented him from being released.
Saifi is married with three children.
Related Cases: Umar Khalid, Shifa ur-Rehman, Sharjeel Imam, Natasha Narwal, Meeran Haider, Ishrat Jehan, Gulfisha Fatima, Devangana Kalita, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha
Photo provided by Justice For All
"Torture, Belief & A Love Letter: Khalid Saifi’s Year In Jail" Article 14
"UN experts urge India to release protest leaders" UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
"United Against Hate, the ‘fact-finding’ group accused of conspiracy in Delhi riots" The Print
"Two anti-CAA activists arrested by Delhi police were tortured in custody, allege family members" Scroll.in
"Six Months Since Delhi Riots, Delhi Police Continue to Enjoy Impunity Despite Rights Violations" Amnesty International
USCIRF Legislation Factsheet: The Citizenship (Amendment) Act in India February 2020