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

Extra Bio Info:

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

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