New Your city’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has penned a letter of support to Umar Khalid, who is incarcerated in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail for five years now on accusations of being a part of a larger conspiracy in the 2020 North East Delhi riots.
Mamdani, along with eight other US lawmakers, have also written a letter to the Indian government, urging it to grant Khalid a fair trial as per international law.
The letter, which includes senders such as Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Democrat Jim McGovern, who represents the 2nd District of Massachusetts, is addressed to India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, and mentions their meeting with Khalid’s parents earlier in December.
In the communication, the lawmakers mention that Umar Khalid has been detained without bail or trial for five years under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), “which independent human rights experts have warned may contravene international standards of equality before the law, due process and proportionality”.
“India must uphold the rights of individuals to receive a trial with reasonable time or to be release and be presume innocent until proven guilty...We request that your government share steps taken to ensure that judicial proceedings against Khalid and co-accused who remain in detention comport with international standard,” the letter further states.
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The letter is undersigned by: Congressman Jamie Raskin, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Peter Welch, Congresswoman Pramila Jaypal, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Congressman Jan Schakowsky and Congressman Llyod Doggett.
Mamdani also penned a note in which he recalled his meeting with Khalid’s parents. The note, shared on social media by Khalid’s partner, Banojyotsna, contains the New York mayor’s words of comfort and support to Khalid.
“I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume one’s self. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you,” the note read.
McGovern also shared a post on X earlier, in which he said that Representative Raskin and he are leading their colleagues to urge that Khalid be granted bail and a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law.
Recently, the Karkardooma Court in Delhi had granted provisional bail to Umar Khalid to attend his sister, Ayesha Fatima Syeda’s wedding on December 27.
Khalid’s bail plea is pending before the Supreme Court.
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