FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global Organizations Demand Release of Indian Activist Umar Khalid, Cite Pattern of Repression
[CITY, DATE] – Amnesty international, CIVICUS, forum-Asia, Front Line Defenders, the International Commission for Jurists, the international Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) today issued a joint statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Indian activist Umar Khalid, and all others detained for peacefully opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
the organizations highlight a concerning pattern of repression in India,citing arbitrary arrests,police inaction during attacks on protestors,and a justice system plagued by flawed investigations. Courts in India have repeatedly criticized police work, describing investigations as “very poor,” “callous,” and “fraught with multiple flaws,” and have documented instances of fabricated cases and manipulated records.
The statement condemns the selective prosecution of activists like Gulfisha Fatima, Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, Shifa-ur-Rehman and Meeran Haider, who remain detained for their peaceful opposition to the CAA, while those perhaps responsible for inciting violence – including senior political leaders who employed inflammatory hate speech branding protestors as “traitors” or “anti-national” – have faced no accountability despite available video and documentary evidence.
“Khalid’s detention is not an isolated case; it is indeed emblematic of a broader pattern of repression faced by those who dare to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and association,” the statement reads.
The organizations are urging the Indian government to:
* Instantly and unconditionally release Umar Khalid and all others detained solely for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
* Ensure quality in the application of bail standards and end the discriminatory treatment of human rights defenders.
* Hold accountable police officials and political leaders against whom there is credible evidence of incitement of and complicity in violence.
* Repeal the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) or amend it to bring it into full conformity with international human rights law.
* Respect, protect, and promote the rights to liberty, fair trial, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
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