India’s Supreme Court Denies Bail for Former Student Leader Umar Khalid

India’s Supreme Court Denies Bail for Former Student Leader Umar Khalid
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India’s Supreme Court on Monday denied bail to former student leader Umar Khalid, who has been in custody for over five years on charges related to the February 2020 Delhi riots, Daen E-Paper reported. Khalid, 38, was arrested under India’s anti-terrorism law in September 2020 and has remained detained except for brief releases to attend family events.

The riots left 53 people dead, mostly Muslims, with some Hindus also affected. Khalid, a former student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, is charged with rioting with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, sedition, and inciting enmity between groups. Authorities allege he delivered “provocative speeches” before the violence, which he denies.

The Supreme Court rejected his appeal, stating that prolonged incarceration alone is not sufficient grounds for bail, and similarly denied bail to fellow activist Sharjeel Imam. However, bail was granted to five others in the same case.

Khalid’s detention has drawn criticism from human rights groups and activists, including Amnesty International, which described his prolonged imprisonment as a violation of international human rights standards. Observers say his case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of Muslims in India, particularly in the context of protests against the 2019 Citizen Amendment Act, which grants citizenship to persecuted religious minorities from neighboring countries—but excludes Muslims.