‘Targeted for dissent’: Sharjeel Imam completes five years in prison

New Delhi: Sharjeel Imam, an IIT graduate and PhD candidate, has been languishing in jail for over five years, despite multiple Supreme Court orders for prompt resolution of bail matters.

His bail plea in the Delhi violence conspiracy case has been pending for nearly three years, with 70 hearings and numerous judicial recusals. Imam, who has already secured bail in six other cases, is still imprisoned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which has made his release a prolonged legal battle.

Imam, arrested in January 2020 for a speech during anti-CAA protests, argued during the trial that while he called for roadblocks, he never advocated violence. His arrest followed an intense hate campaign and repeated notices, particularly for his role in the Shaheen Bagh protests—a historic sit-in against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Despite being charged in multiple cases across five states, Imam maintains that he was targeted for his dissent, not for any violent act.

In an article sent from jail to Maktoob, Imam expressed his surprise at being accused of terrorism for events that transpired after his arrest.

Facing charges including sedition and terrorism, Imam is linked to incidents in Delhi, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Uttar Pradesh. His initial arrest was tied to a controversial speech delivered at Aligarh Muslim University in January 2020, calling for a blockade of the corridor connecting mainland India to the Northeast. This speech was heavily criticised by the media and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused Imam of attempting to “break the country.”