In a gesture of solidarity, New York City's newly inaugurated Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, penned a heartfelt handwritten note to Umar Khalid, the former JNU student leader who has been incarcerated for six years in connection with the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. The personal message was delivered to Khalid's parents during their visit to the United States in December 2025 and was made public this week.
A Meeting and a Message
The note, which began with "Dear Umar," was handed to Khalid's parents, Sahiba Khanam and Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, when they met Mayor Mamdani on December 9, 2025. The parents had travelled to the US to visit their daughter ahead of a family wedding. During a 25-minute meeting, Mamdani expressed his desire to share a letter with Umar and wrote it on the spot before they departed.
In the note, Mayor Mamdani referenced Khalid's past reflections, writing: "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." A photograph of this note was subsequently shared on social media platform X by Khalid's partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri, on the very day Mamdani assumed office as mayor.
The Context of Khalid's Incarceration
Umar Khalid was granted a two-week interim bail in December 2025 to attend his sister's wedding, marking his third temporary release from jail. He is among 18 individuals facing allegations of being part of a "larger conspiracy" to instigate the Northeast Delhi riots that occurred between February 23 and February 25, 2020. The violence resulted in 53 fatalities and over 700 injuries.
Charged under stringent laws including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Indian Penal Code, and others, Khalid has been described as a "veteran of sedition" in the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police Special Cell. His case continues to be a focal point in discussions concerning dissent and legal processes in India.
A Previous Connection
This was not the first public interaction between Mamdani and Khalid's writings. Back in 2023, at an event in New York, Zohran Mamdani had read aloud excerpts from a letter that Umar Khalid had written from prison. The recent handwritten note reinforces a continued awareness and engagement from the international political figure with Khalid's situation and ideas.
Khalid's father, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas (70), confirmed that when Umar returned home for the wedding festivities, they showed him Mayor Mamdani's letter. The act of delivering a personal note through family channels highlights a human connection amidst a prolonged legal and political ordeal.
