Delhi against Mamdani over letter to jailed activist Umar Khalid

by Nirmala Carvalho

India has criticised a message of solidarity sent by the mayor of New York (of Indian origin) to the former researcher detained since 2020 for the Delhi riots. Respect for the independence of the judiciary emphasised. International organisations and legislators denounce the prolonged detention and call for a fair trial. Amnesty International: ‘Derailment of justice’.

Delhi (AsiaNews) - The Delhi government has reacted harshly to a short letter sent by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to imprisoned activist Umar Khalid, 38, stating that elected representatives must respect the independence of the judiciary in other democratic countries. Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said that expressing personal prejudices is not appropriate for those in public office and advised them to focus on the responsibilities of their role.

‘We expect public representatives to respect the independence of the judiciary in other democracies. Expressing personal biases is not befitting of those in public office. Instead of making such comments, it would be better to focus on the responsibilities entrusted to them.’ These are the words of spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, spoken during a press conference.

In early January, a photograph of Mamdani's handwritten note to Khalid - a student activist and former researcher at Jawaharlal Nehru University, detained since September 2020 on charges of conspiracy linked to the Delhi riots that same year - was shared on X by his friend Banojyotsna Lahiri, on the day Mamdani was sworn in as mayor. Mamdani wrote: ‘Dear Umar, I often think of your words about bitterness and the importance of not letting it consume you. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you.’

According to media reports, the note was given to Khalid's parents when Mamdani met them during their visit to the United States in December 2025. Lahiri told the Hindustan Times that Khalid's parents, Sahiba Khanam and Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, had travelled to the United States before their youngest daughter's wedding to meet another daughter who lives there and was unable to travel to India. On 5 January, the Indian Supreme Court denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the case of the 2020 Delhi riots, in which 36 Muslims and 15 Hindus were killed during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), both introduced a year earlier in 2019.

The Delhi police were accused by activists of failing to intervene and acting in favour of Hindus: 16 of the 18 defendants are Muslims. Umar Khalid was not even present, but was sentenced to five years in prison. In denying bail, the Supreme Court noted that there was a prima facie case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria ruled that delays in the trial cannot serve as a “trump card” to ignore the guarantees provided by law.

Eight US lawmakers also wrote an appeal to the Indian ambassador in Washington, expressing concern about Khalid's prolonged pre-trial detention. Democratic senators and members of the House called for him to be given a fair and timely trial, stating that the case ‘raises serious questions about due process, human rights and India's obligations under international law’. .

International human rights organisations have also frequently sought to highlight the case. In September, on the fifth anniversary of Khalid's detention, Amnesty International wrote that his ‘detention without trial is an example of a derailment of justice’ and is ‘emblematic of a broader pattern of repression affecting those who dare to exercise their right to freedom of expression’.