A handwritten letter from Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, to jailed Indian activist Umar Khalid has renewed international attention on Khalid’s prolonged imprisonment without trial under India’s anti-terror law.
The letter, shared publicly by Khalid’s partner shortly after Mamdani was sworn in as mayor, followed Mamdani’s meeting with Khalid’s parents during their visit to the United States in early December. Though brief and personal, the note has drawn wider attention due to its timing and symbolism.
“Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often and the importance of not letting it consume one’s self. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you,” the note read.
Nearly Five Years in Jail Without Trial
Umar Khalid has been incarcerated since September 2020 in connection with the February 2020 communal violence in northeast Delhi. He is charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), India’s stringent anti-terror legislation that allows extended detention and makes bail difficult to obtain.
Khalid has consistently denied the allegations, which include claims of conspiracy linked to protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Human rights organisations have argued that his case reflects the broader use of anti-terror laws against political dissent.
US Lawmakers Call for Due Process
Following Mamdani’s letter, eight US lawmakers wrote to India’s ambassador in Washington urging the Indian government to ensure Khalid receives a fair and timely trial. The signatories included senior Democratic leaders such as Jim McGovern, Jamie Raskin, Chris Van Hollen, Pramila Jayapal and Rashida Tlaib.
The lawmakers stated that Khalid’s continued detention without bail raises serious concerns regarding due process, presumption of innocence, and equality before the law under international human rights standards.
While Mamdani did not sign the letter, the sequence of events has amplified global attention on Khalid’s case.
Background of the Case
Khalid was arrested amid a broader crackdown following nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in late 2019 and early 2020. After communal violence erupted in Delhi in February 2020, critics say authorities targeted student leaders and activists rather than focusing solely on perpetrators of violence.
Despite multiple bail applications, Khalid remains incarcerated. He was briefly granted interim bail in December 2025 to attend his sister’s wedding before returning to Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
International Scrutiny Grows
Rights groups have long argued that the UAPA has been disproportionately applied against Muslims and government critics during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Khalid’s detention is frequently cited as a prominent example of these concerns.
Mamdani’s letter, though personal in tone, has become a symbolic reminder of Khalid’s ongoing legal limbo and the broader debate surrounding civil liberties, dissent, and counter-terror legislation in India.
