Five years of jail haven’t broken son’s spirit: Umar Khalid’s father

Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, former JNU student leader Umar Khalid’s father, said that the prolonged incarceration has not broken his son’s spirit. “I want to tell you that Umar has no regrets, nor have the years in jail broken his spirit,” said Mr. Ilyas at an event organised by the JNU Students’ Union to mark five years of Mr. Khalid’s arrest.

He added, “I assure you that once they are out, they will not sit at home, but will continue their fight.”

Mr. Ilyas said the fight should continue until the “black laws” such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) are repealed by the government.

Also present at the event were the family members of other activists, including Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima, Athar Khan, and Shadab Ahmed, who were denied bail by the Delhi High Court on September 2 in the 2020 Delhi riots “larger conspiracy” case.

The accused appealed the verdict in the Supreme Court, which adjourned hearing on their bail pleas to September 19.

“I have seen hope in my children’s eyes shatter. Recently, he [Khalid Saifi] came out for 10 days on [interim] bail when my son was unwell. He told us that he will soon come out for good,” said Nargis, Mr. Saifi’s wife. Many of those present, including Gulfisha Fatima’s mother, welled up on hearing stories from other parents.

Nitish Kumar, JNUSU president, said, “It is clear that those who are in jail are Muslim. They stood by the Constitution but were put behind jail. It is not just an individual fight of their families, but a collective fight, and we will continue to fight until the true conspirators of the Delhi riots are punished.”

Md. Najimuddin, Athar Khan’s uncle, said, “Bail is supposed to be the norm and jail, the exception. But for us, it feels like bail is the exception and jail is the norm.”

Shadab Ahmad’s father, Shamshad Ahmad, urged the crowd to remember the names of all the jailed activists, not just the prominent ones.

The call for the ‘Freedom March’ was given by three postholders of the JNUSU, who were elected as part of a Left alliance.