NEW DELHI: Amnesty International has condemned India for keeping student activist and human rights defender Umar Khalid imprisoned for five years without trial, calling his case a “derailment of justice” and an example of how anti-terror laws are weaponised to silence dissent.
In a joint statement with six other rights groups, Amnesty urged New Delhi to “immediately and unconditionally” release Khalid, who was arrested in mid of September 2020 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for protesting against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Despite repeated bail pleas and little progress in trial proceedings, Khalid remains behind bars while political figures accused of inciting violence during the 2020 Delhi riots enjoy impunity.
Religious freedom under pressure
The criticism comes as the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its 2025 annual report warned of a deepening crisis for religious minorities in India. The report cited rising hate speech from political leaders, vigilante attacks, and the use of anti-conversion and citizenship laws disproportionately targeting Muslims and Christians.
USCIRF highlighted demolitions of mosques and minority-owned homes, and renewed its call for Washington to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act. The commission also listed Khalid in its Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) victims database, underscoring his detention as part of a broader crackdown on dissent linked to minority rights.
Pattern of suppression
Rights groups argue that the UAPA and other laws are being selectively applied to stifle peaceful protest and political opposition, particularly among Muslim activists. Alongside Khalid, others such as Sharjeel Imam and Gulfisha Fatima remain jailed on similar charges.
Human rights observers say Khalid’s prolonged detention without trial, combined with the systemic discrimination highlighted by USCIRF, has become emblematic of how the world’s largest democracy is treating dissent and religious pluralism.
