Two U.S.-based diaspora advocacy groups, the Indian American Muslim Council and Hindus for Human Rights, have issued a joint statement urging the Indian government to immediately drop all charges against Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad. They also called for the release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience detained for exercising their democratic rights.
Professor Mahmudabad was arrested on May 18 following a complaint by a leader affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The complaint targeted a social media post in which the professor voiced concern over civilian casualties in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s recent military strikes on targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In the post, he also criticized perceived double standards in the treatment of Indian Muslims.
Though the Supreme Court granted him interim bail on May 21, it reportedly described his post as “dog whistling” and an attempt at “cheap publicity,” language the advocacy groups argue legitimizes police harassment and legal persecution.
The statement contextualized the arrest as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in India, citing recent actions by Indian authorities to block over 8,000 social media accounts and restrict access to several independent media platforms, including The Wire, Maktoob Media, and various Kashmiri outlets. Some of these platforms were only partially restored later.
According to the groups, these developments reflect a wider pattern of repression targeting academics, journalists, and Muslim intellectuals. The statement also referenced the continued detention of student activists such as Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Calling for an end to what they describe as authoritarian practices, the diaspora organizations urged the Indian government to uphold constitutional rights and protect free expression for all citizens, regardless of religious identity.
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