Hyderabad: Speakers from across political and civil society platforms on Sunday strongly criticised prolonged detention without trial at a public meeting organised by the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) in Hyderabad, describing it as a grave violation of human rights and a serious assault on civil liberties.
The meeting, held on the theme “Longing for Justice: Continuous Denial of Bail and Caging of Dissent,” collectively demanded the immediate release of those allegedly illegally arrested, particularly activists linked to the anti–Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) movement, including Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, Gulfashan Fatima, and Tahir Hussain.
The programme was attended by noted actor Prakash Raj, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Vice President Malik Muntasim Khan, APCR National Secretary Nadeem Khan, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud, MLC Prof. Kodandaram, youth leader and poet Aamir Aziz, social activists Adnan and Geo Bora, author and activist Lalitha Ramdas, and advocate V Raghunath.
Prakash Raj: ‘Courts No Longer the Last Hope’
Speaking forcefully on dissent, democracy, and shrinking civil liberties, Prakash Raj said silencing voices could not break the spirit of those who continue to speak truth to power.
“Please try to understand—whatever is happening in this country is a preparation for a genocide,”he said, alleging systematic targeting of Muslims, tribal communities, and minorities.
Referring to prolonged incarceration, Raj said,“Justice delayed is justice denied,”and recalled that courts were once seen as the last refuge for citizens.
“Today, that faith has been deeply shaken,”he added, accusing the judiciary of enabling injustice through repeated denial of bail.
Warning activists against misidentifying power structures, Raj said,“You are fighting the BJP. Don’t fight the BJP—fight the RSS.”
He cautioned that repression would eventually affect all sections of society.“Today they are coming for Muslims. Tomorrow they will come for you,”he said.
‘Political Prisoners Languishing for Years’: JIH Leader
Addressing the gathering, Malik Muntasim Khan said, “Hundreds of innocent political prisoners have been languishing in jails across the country for years. The government fears that if they are released, people will awaken.”
Condemning lynching, he said it was “not a crime against any one religion, but a crime against humanity,” and accused the Union government of failing to safeguard citizens’ fundamental rights.
‘Who Will Question Judicial Accountability?’: APCR
Raising serious concerns over judicial accountability, APCR National Secretary Nadeem Khan said prolonged incarceration without conviction had become the norm in several cases.
“When we speak of accountability in every sphere, who will question judicial accountability?”he asked.
Referring to Umar Khalid’s arrest on 13 September 2020, Khan said multiple cases were filed to deny bail and cited alleged inconsistencies in FIRs. He listed several activists who have spent more than 2,000 days in jail without conviction.
“Even today, courts have not proven what crime these people committed, yet bail is denied,”he said.
Khan said the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was invoked after other cases failed to stand in court. Referring to Safoora Zargar’s bail on pregnancy grounds, he noted that courts later ruled it could not be treated as a precedent for others.
Telangana Congress Chief: ‘Bail Principle Reversed’
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud warned of an assault on democracy and judicial independence.
“Bail is the rule, jail is the exception. But today this principle has been completely reversed,”he said, accusing the BJP-led government of undermining constitutional values and democratic institutions.
He also alleged misuse of central agencies and the branding of dissenters as anti-national.
MLC Prof. Kodandaram said those arrested were social activists whose only “crime” was opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act.
“Keeping people incarcerated without trial is nothing but punishment—an open violation of human rights,”he said.
Poet Aamir Aziz said dissent could not be crushed through intimidation, while Adnan described the UAPA as “a draconian law that criminalises dissent.”
Geo Bora said the CAA was introduced on religious lines and that prolonged pre-trial detention was weakening democracy.
Collective Resolution
The meeting concluded with a collective resolve to intensify the struggle for justice, accountability, and the protection of civil rights and liberties across the country.