Citizens for Justice and Peace
MUNAWAR FARUQUI
He is a comedian who spent over a month in jail for a joke he did not crack. Munawar Faruqui was arrested in the middle of his comedy show by the Indore Police on complaints by a Hindutva outfit Hind Rakshak Sanghathan for allegedly making indecent jokes about Hindu Gods. His arrest led to a social media uproar as the Indore Police accepted too, that no jokes about Hinduism were cracked. During his performance in Hyderabad in August, 2022, around 50 people were taken into preventive custody when they reached the venue of a show by the stand-up comedian. Among the people arrested were a number of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers. Following this show, he was denied permission to hold shows in Bangaluru and Delhi. While the Bengaluru police said that that the show’s organisers did not obtain the necessary permissions to hold the show, Delhi police said that the possible impact of his shows on communal harmony in the area was why he was not allowed to hold the show.
Charges
Sections 295 A (deliberate, malicious intention of outraging religious feelings), 298 (deliberate intention to wound religious feelings), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection, in view of the pandemic), 188 (disobey orders promulgated by public servants) and 34 (acting together in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
SIDDIQUE KAPPAN
He is a Kerala based journalist who currently works with the news portal Azhimukham as a regular contributor. He also serves as the Secretary of Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ). He was picked up by the police when he was on his way to cover the Hathras case and is accused of being associated with an Islamic organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) and having a history of organising demonstrations against CAA.
Charges
Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of a class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code, section 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) of the UAPA, section under Information Technology Act for carrying “suspicious” literature
GAUTAM NAVLAKHA
Gautam Navlakha is a senior journalist, civil rights activist and a writer who has been a fierce critic of the Indian Army’s atrocities in the Kashmir Valley. He is a member of People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), Delhi and also the editorial consultant of the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW).
Charges
Sections 153A (promote enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, caste, class), 505(1B) (publishes something to cause alarm in the minds of the public), Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 13 (Punishment for unlawful activities), 16 ( Punishment for terrorist act), 17 (Punishment for raising funds for terrorist act), 18 (Punishment for conspiracy), 18B (Punishment for recruiting of any person or persons for terrorist act), 20 (Punishment for being member of terrorist gang or organisation), 38 (Offence relating to membership of a terrorist organisation) and 40 (Offence of raising fund for a terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
DR. G.N. SAIBABA
A differently abled former lecturer of English at Ram Lal Anand College, Delhi University, Dr. Saibaba has been a prominent voice against State excesses. He was particularly vocal about Operation Green Hunt, a drive against alleged Naxalites, where underprivileged sections fell prey to brutal assault by State forces.
Charges
Sections 13 (unlawful activities), 18 (conspiracy), 20 (member of a terrorist gang) and 38-39 (support to a terrorist organisation) of the UAPA. Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.
AKHIL GOGOI
Perhaps best known as a peasants' rights activist, Akhil Gogoi is also a known crusader against corruption. He is the recipient of Shanmugam Manjunath Integrity Award 2008 for his undeterred fight against corruption, National Right to Information Award by Public Cause Research Foundation. He is also the founder of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) in Assam. He also won a state assembly election, contesting from behind bars, and is now the MLA from Sibsagar.
Charges
Gogoi has been charged by Assam Police in 12 cases. IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy). 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integrity), 144 (unlawful assembly) sections 18 (punishment for conspiracy) and 39 (support given to terrorist organisation) of UAPA. Sections 3 and 4 (public mischief caused to damage public property) of The Prevention of Damage to Public Property.
ATHAR KHAN
Athar is a 25-year-old who actively participated in the anti CAA protests held at the Chand Bagh protest site in New Delhi in 2020. He was initially drawn towards the movement after he was disturbed by the horrific incidents at Jamia Millia Islamia University where peaceful protesters were beaten up. He began to take part in the protests at Jamia every Sunday in 2020 and got more and more involved in understanding the ramifications of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. He was pursuing his distance education (BBA) at Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) when he was arrested in July 2020.
Charges
IPC sections of 124A (sedition) 153A (promoting enmity between religious groups), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 212 / 295 (insulting someone's religion) / 302 (punishment for murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant), 395 (dacoity), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). Sections 13 (punishment for unlawful activities), 16 (punishment for terrorist act), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist act), and 18 (punishment for conspiracy) of UAPA.
RONA WILSON
Rona Wilson is the public relations secretary for Committee for Release of Political Prisoners. He was at the forefront of the struggle to release SAR Geelani in the 2001 Parliament attack case. A voracious reader, he continues to prepare for his PhD from jail where he has been lodged for over 2 years now.
Charges
Sections 153A (promoting enmity), 501(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief), 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against Government of India), 121(A) (Conspiracy to commit offences punishable under Section 121), 124(A) (sedition) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) read with Sections 13 (advocating, abetting or inciting unlawful activity), 16 (terrorist acts), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy),18(B)( Punishment for recruiting of any person or persons for terrorist act), 20 (being member of terrorist gang or organisation), 38 (membership of a terrorist organisation), 39 (supporting terrorist organisation) and 40 (fundraising for terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA)
ISHRAT JAHAN
An advocate, activist and a political leader, Ishrat Jahan, has been incarcerated in connection with the Delhi Riots conspiracy case. She was the first woman to become Congress’ Municipal Councilor from 2012-17, and had reportedly also been associated with the All India Congress Committee (AICC). She has been facing constant harassment and physical abuse from fellow inmates and has also developed medical issues like hypertension, anxiety and also suffered a spinal injury after taking a fall in prison.
Charges
Sections 13 (Punishment for unlawful activities), 16 (punishment for terrorist act), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist act) and 18 (punishment for conspiracy) of the UAPA. Sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder), 186 (voluntarily obstructing public servant on duty) of the Indian Penal Code. Sections 25 & 27 of the Arms Act and Sections 3 & 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 (These are some of the charges levelled against her missing from the page)
KHALID SAIFI
Khalid Saifi is a member of United Against Hate. He was implicated in the February 2020 Delhi violence case after being accused of dropping Delhi violence accused Tahir Hussain outside a building on February 27 and then seen entering the building with Umar Khalid.
Charges
IPC Sections 109 and 114 (abetment), 147, 148, (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 186 (obstructing a public servant from doing his duty), 212 (harbouring offender), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant), 395 (dacoity), 427 (causing mischief), 435, 436 (causing mischief by fire), 452, 454 (trespassing), 505 (public mischief), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 124A (sedition), and UAPA Sections 13 (unlawful activities), Section 16 (terrorist acts), Section 17 (raising funds for terrorist acts) and Section 18 (conspiracy).