17 March 2026
UN Experts Recognise Umar Khalid’s Detention as Arbitrary
In an opinion issued in February, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) ruled that Umar Khalid’s detention was arbitrary. Diaspora in Action for Human Rights and Democracy (DAHRD) urges on Indian authorities to implement the UNWGAD’s recommendations and immediately release Umar Khalid.
A major international development in the Umar Khalid case. After more than five years in prison, the UNWGAD experts have determined that the Indian activist’s detention is arbitrary under four categories of arbitrary detention established by the UN body.
The UNWGAD concluded that Umar Khalid’s deprivation of liberty results from “the exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, assembly, association and participation in public affairs”. UN experts note that such activities are protected under international human rights law. They call on the Indian government to release Khalid immediately and grant him an “enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.”
We welcome the UNWGAD’ opinion, which clearly confirms that Umar Khalid’s detention is unjust and contrary to international law. In a democracy, no one should be imprisoned for years without trial for expressing their opinions and participating in peaceful protests. The Indian authorities must now respect the UN’s findings and release Umar Khalid without delay.” – Ritumbra Manuvie, Director of DAHRD
A prominent figure in the nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Umar Khalid has been detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) since September 2020. His prolonged pre-trial detention has been a cause of serious concern among human rights organisations for years.
Since the beginning of this case, DAHRD has worked alongside partner organisations to draw the international community’s attention to Umar Khalid’s prolonged detention. Following the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant bail after more than five years of detention without trial, we called on the UNWGAD to review the complaint filed by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) and to recognise the arbitrary nature of his detention. Even more recently, DAHRD contributed to a joint statement by international organisations calling for Khalid’s immediate release, and helped raise awareness of his case in the international media and among European institutions.
DAHRD now calls on the Indian authorities to fully implement the recommendations made by the UNWGAD and to finally ensure that anti-terrorism laws are no longer used to criminalise dissent.
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