Student activist Safoora Zargar, facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 Northeast Delhi violence, appeared before a Delhi court on Tuesday to seek her discharge, asserting that peaceful political protest should not be criminalized, reported the Maktoob Media
Zargar, who is currently out on bail, was represented by Advocate Shahrukh Alam before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai at the Karkardooma Courts complex. Her legal team argued that the accusations against her are rooted in her participation in constitutionally protected protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
Advocate Alam emphasized that dissent and criticism of the government are hallmarks of democracy and do not amount to terrorist activity. She contended that invoking UAPA against peaceful protestors like Zargar sets a dangerous precedent and undermines fundamental rights.
Zargar, an M.Phil. scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia and a member of the Jamia Coordination Committee, was arrested in April 2020 during her pregnancy and later granted bail on humanitarian grounds. She was accused, along with other anti-CAA activists, of conspiring to incite the communal violence in Northeast Delhi, a narrative heavily contested by civil society and human rights groups.
The violence, which disproportionately targeted Muslims, was reportedly sparked by inflammatory remarks made by BJP leader Kapil Mishra. Eyewitnesses and video footage pointed to police inaction and complicity as Hindu mobs unleashed violence in Muslim-majority areas.
Zargar’s case is part of a broader investigation being conducted by the Delhi Police Special Cell. Several student and civil society activists, including Meeran Haider, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Ishrat Jahan, Gulfisha, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Tahir Hussain, and Khalid Saifi, have also been booked under similar charges in the same case.
The court is currently hearing discharge applications from multiple accused as they challenge the validity of the charges.
