Fri Jan 02 04:36:53 UTC 2026: Summary:
Eight U.S. lawmakers have sent a letter to the Indian Ambassador, urging the Indian government to grant bail and a fair trial to activist Umar Khalid, who has been detained since September 2020 under the UAPA and other charges related to the 2020 Delhi riots. The letter, dated December 30, 2025, expresses concern about Khalid’s prolonged detention without trial and urges India to adhere to international standards of due process. This follows a separate note from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressing support for Khalid. Umar Khalid was recently granted interim bail to attend his sister’s wedding, but his broader bail plea remains pending before the Supreme Court.
News Article:
U.S. Lawmakers Urge India to Grant Bail, Fair Trial to Activist Umar Khalid
Washington D.C. – January 2, 2026 – In a move that could strain relations between the two nations, eight U.S. lawmakers have directly appealed to the Indian government for the release and fair trial of activist Umar Khalid, who has been imprisoned in India since September 2020. Khalid faces charges including criminal conspiracy and violating the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 North East Delhi riots.
The bipartisan letter, addressed to Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra and dated December 30, 2025, was spearheaded by Democrat Jim McGovern, Co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and includes signatures from prominent representatives such as Jamie Raskin, Pramila Jayapal, Jan Schakowsky, Lloyd Dogget, Rashid Tlaib, and Senators Chris Van Hollen and Peter Welch.
The letter emphasizes the U.S. lawmakers’ concern over Khalid’s prolonged detention without bail for the past five years. They state, “Umar Khalid has been detained without bail for 5 years under UAPA, which independent human rights experts have warned may contravene international standards of equality before the law, due process and proportionality.” It further urges India to “uphold the rights of individuals to receive a trial with reasonable time or to be released and be presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
The appeal comes on the heels of a separate expression of support from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who penned a note to Khalid acknowledging his situation and sharing it on social media.
Khalid was recently granted a brief interim bail to attend his sister’s wedding under strict conditions, including a ban on social media use and limitations on who he could meet. His broader bail plea remains pending before the Indian Supreme Court. This latest intervention from the U.S. could further intensify scrutiny on India’s handling of the case and its application of the UAPA.
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