India Delays Release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in Riot Case

Five Muslim students and activists have been granted bail by India’s Supreme Court in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots. The court also denied bail to two high-profile scholars, Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who will remain in Tihar jail until their trials begin.

Shamshad Ahmed’s son Shadab Ahmed was among those released on Monday after serving over five years in prison without a trial. Ahmed had been incarcerated since April 2020. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Ahmed expressed relief and gratitude, stating that the justice was delayed but not denied.

The case has sparked controversy, particularly regarding the institutional persecution of Muslims under the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 2019 change to India’s citizenship law, which Muslims claim is discriminatory, had triggered nationwide protests. The government responded by arresting hundreds of protesters, many under “anti-terror” laws, and killing dozens.

The Delhi Police filed 758 criminal cases in connection with the riots, resulting in over 2,000 arrests. At least 18 student leaders and activists were charged under an “anti-terror” law, which makes it difficult to secure bail. The court is currently deciding on the bail of seven defendants, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.

The accused include students and rights activists who were detained without a trial for over five years. The case has been widely discussed in India and beyond, with some expressing concern about the treatment of Muslims under Modi’s government.

Source: Al Jazeera