Statement: Canada’s Investigation into India’s Transnational Repression and the Expulsion of Indian Diplomats October 18,…
Statement: The sentencing of Shaikh Umar Gautam and Maulana Kaleem Siddiqi
Justice For All condemns an excessively harsh sentence imposed last week on two respected Indian Muslim religious leaders. The sentence violates their fundamental right to practice and share their faith.
On September 11, 2024, Shaikh Umar Gautam and Maulana Kaleem Siddiqi were sentenced to life imprisonment, accused of forcibly converting their followers to Islam. Authorities claim that the clerics used foreign funds to facilitate these conversions. Notably, the investigation was led by the Anti-Terrorism Squad of Uttar Pradesh. The sentencing took place in a “special court” in Lucknow, the state capital.
Both clerics were originally arrested in 2021. This recent sentencing reveals the extreme lengths Indian authorities are willing to go to suppress religious conversions, constituting a grave violation of religious freedom. Followers of Shaikh Umar and Maulana Kaleem maintain that their followers’ conversions were voluntary, without any coercion or financial incentive.
Some Indian journalists are raising alarms about potential irregularities in the legal proceedings, leading to concerns about the fairness of the trial. The journalists are currently seeking more information on the court’s makeup and procedures.
Justice For All calls on the international community to recognize that such punitive measures are disproportionately targeted at Muslims and dissenters of Modi’s policies, while Hindus involved in serious crimes, including rape and murder, often evade justice. This is not only a miscarriage of justice but also an egregious attack on religious freedom. We will continue to monitor developments closely.
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