India's 'Largest Democracy' Jails Dissent for Half a Decade
India’s Supreme Court has again denied bail to Muslim activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, both imprisoned since 2020 under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Accused of orchestrating the 2020 Delhi riots, they’ve spent over five years in jail without a trial—a testament to India's commitment to speedy justice, particularly for its 200 million Muslim citizens. This
isn't an isolated incident; Amnesty International noted in 2021 that the UAPA is disproportionately used against religious minorities and critics of the government. For a country lauded as the world's 'largest democracy,' due process appears to be a selective luxury. While Western media outlets like ABC News dutifully report the court's decision, they rarely connect these individual cases to the
broader systemic targeting of Muslim voices under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government. One might wonder how many more years these activists will spend awaiting a trial that may never materialize, all while India’s human rights record continues its steady, alarming descent. How long can a 'democracy' hold its citizens without conviction before it simply becomes an
authoritarian state with elections?