Concerned about extended pretrial detention and international legal standards, 8 US democratic lawmakers have written to India’s ambassador in Washington. They requested bail and a prompt, fair trial for activist Umar Khalid. He has been detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for more than 5 years now.
The letter written by US Representatives Jim McGovernand Jamie Raskin calls on Indian authorities to give Khalid bail so that his trial can start right away. The letter is signed by Democratic lawmakers Chris Van Hollen, Peter Welch, Pramila Jayapal, Jan Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib, and Lloyd Doggett in addition to McGovern and Raskin.
The parliamentarians indeed emphasized their “respect for India’s democratic institutions. They also questioned whether prolonged detention without trial is consistent with international legal standards. They also wanted to know why, more than 5 years after his arrest, legal processes had not yet started.
The US lawmakers urged New Delhi in the letter to guarantee that Khalid receives due process and that his case is heard fairly. Concerns about the extended use of pretrial detention under India’s Anti-Terror law and its effects on civil liberties were raised.
Zohran Mamdani writes a letter to Umar Khalid
As India Supreme Court is ready to hear activist Umar Khalid’s appeal, Zohran Mamdani has openly supported Khalid and called for his release on bail. He also took office as Mayor of New York City on Thursday.
Mamdani wrote a private letter to Khalid, which Khalid’s friend Banojyostna Lahiri made public on Thursday. “Umar, I often think of your words on bitterness and the importance of not letting it consume oneself. It was a pleasure meeting your family,” he wrote in the note.
“We are all thinking of you,” he added.
Umar Khalid’s arrest in the 2020 Delhi riots
Former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020 on suspicion of plotting the 2020 Delhi riots. That incident claimed 53 lives. He has continuously refuted the prosecution’s assertion that he was involved in a larger scheme of violence.
He has been allowed temporary parole for family reasons. Most notably, to attend his sister’s wedding in December 2025. But the Delhi court has consistently denied his Bail request.
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