US lawmakers urge fair trial for Umar Khalid in letter to Indian ambassador

A group of US lawmakers has written a letter to Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra urging a fair and timely trial for activist Umar Khalid in accordance with international lawUS Representatives Jim McGovern and Jamie Raskin are among eight lawmakers who have expressed concern regarding the prolonged pretrial detention of individuals charged in connection with the February 2020 violence in Delhi including KhalidKhalid and a few others have been booked under the stringent antiterror law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967 UAPA and provisions of the Indian Penal Code IPC for allegedly being the masterminds of the Delhi riots which left 53 people dead and more than 700 injuredThe US and India share a longstanding strategic partnership that has historically been rooted in democratic values constitutional governance and strong peopletopeople ties the letter said adding that as the worlds largest democracies both nations have an interest in protecting and upholding freedom the rule of law human rights and pluralismIt is in this spirit that the lawmakers said they are raising their concerns regarding Khalids detentionThe lawmakers claimed that human rights organisations legal experts and global media have raised questions about the fairness of the investigation and legal process related to Khalids detentionHe has been detained without bail for five years for charges levied under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act which independent human rights experts have warned may contravene international standards of equality before the law due process and proportionalityThe US Representatives further added that they understand that these matters are presently under consideration before the Supreme Court of India and welcomed the news that Khalid received temporary bail to attend his sisters weddingThey urged that Khalid should be granted bail and released for the duration of the courts proceedingsWith respect for Indias democratic institutions and its role as a key partner of the US we request that your Government share the steps being taken to ensure that the judicial proceedings against Khalid and those of his coaccused who remain in detention comport with international standards the lawmakers saidNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also written a note for Khalid recalling his words on bitterness and the importance of not letting it consume ones selfThe note was posted on X by Khalids partner Banojyotsna LahiriDear Umar I think of your words on bitterness often and the importance of not letting it consume ones self It was a pleasure to meet your parents We are all thinking of you the handwritten note signed by Mamdani saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever