India's top court denies bail to 2 Muslim activists after 5 years in jail without trial
AP News••world
Key Points:
- India’s Supreme Court denied bail to Muslim student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been detained for five years without trial in connection to the 2020 Delhi riots linked to protests against a controversial citizenship law.
- The court differentiated Khalid and Imam from other accused individuals, citing their "central role in the conspiracy" and ruled that trial delays were insufficient grounds for bail.
- Khalid and Imam were charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, criticized for being used to suppress political dissent and allowing prolonged pretrial detention.
- Prosecutors allege the activists deliberately incited communal violence, while their lawyers deny the charges and claim lack of evidence connecting them to the riots.
