In a significant show of international solidarity, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reached out with a personal handwritten note to student activist Umar Khalid, who has been incarcerated in India for nearly five years in connection with the February 2020 Delhi riots.
A Personal Note from New York's Leader
The undated note was shared publicly on the social media platform X by Khalid's partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri, on Thursday. This occurred shortly after Mamdani was sworn into office during a midnight ceremony. In his message, the newly inaugurated mayor referenced Khalid's past reflections, writing, "Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume oneself." He concluded with the supportive words, "It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you."
When approached for comment by the Times of India, Mayor Mamdani's office had not responded by the time of publication.
Family Meeting and International Attention
The context for this communication stems from a meeting between Khalid's parents and the mayor. Khalid's father, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, revealed that the family met with Mamdani in early December last year during a visit to the United States to see Khalid's sister. Ilyas had sought an appointment to congratulate Mamdani on his electoral victory.
"He gave us time exclusively and we discussed many things, including Umar’s incarceration," Ilyas stated. He added that they also spoke about the developments in his son's legal case, with Mamdani confirming he follows the situation and has read Khalid's letters from jail.
This international focus was echoed by Banojyotsna Lahiri, who emphasized, "This prolonged incarceration itself is unjust, and that is why it has attracted international attention."
Legal Case and US Congressional Concern
Umar Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student, was arrested in September 2020. He faces charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), accused of conspiring to incite the Delhi riots—allegations he has consistently denied. While his pre-trial detention has stretched for years, he was granted temporary bail in December 2023 to attend his sister's wedding.
The concern over his detention has reached the halls of the United States Congress. Khalid's father separately met with Democrat Congressman Jamie Raskin, who expressed concern over the arrest and extended his support. Ilyas informed Raskin that the matter is currently before the Supreme Court of India and the family remains hopeful for a favourable outcome.
This diplomatic engagement took a formal turn on December 30, when Congressman Raskin, along with three other US lawmakers, wrote to India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra. In their letter, they expressed deep concern over Khalid's continued pre-trial detention. The lawmakers argued that Khalid has been denied bail for five years under UAPA, and that the "pre-trial treatment to which he has been subjected is punitive in and of itself."
The case of Umar Khalid continues to be a focal point for discussions on legal processes, human rights, and now, international diplomatic discourse.
