'Wholly unwarranted': JNU teachers' association condemn arrest of academician Ali Khan Mahmudabad
NEW DELHI: The
Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association
(JNUTA) on Sunday condemned the
of
Ashoka University
assistant professor
Ali Khan Mahmudabad
and called for his immediate release.
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"We express outrage at the wholly unwarranted arrest by the
Haryana Police
of Dr Khan. This arrest, purportedly on the basis of a complaint by a leader of the ruling party (BJP), follows soon after the Haryana State Commission for Women acted way beyond its jurisdiction in taking suo motu cognisance of some statements made by Professor Khan," JNUTA said in a statement, according to news agency PTI.
"The JNUTA demands the immediate release of Prof Khan and the withdrawal of false cases against him.
It expresses the hope also that the judicial process will work and work quickly to ensure that his legitimate rights are protected and those responsible for misusing the law are held to account," the statement added.
On Sunday, Mahmudabad was arrested on stringent charges, including those related to "endangering the country's sovereignty and integrity." He was arrested days after the Haryana State Commission for Women sent him a notice over his social media post on the Indian armed forces'
against terrorists in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
In its May 12 notice, the Haryana State Commission for Women cited "concerns" over Mahmudabad's comments allegedly disparaging women in uniform, particularly Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the armed forces officers who held daily press briefings on Operation Sindoor alongside foreign secretary Vikram Misri.
Responding to the notice, Mahmudabad had said his post was "misunderstood."
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He asserted he exercised his fundamental right to freedom of speech.
The academician, who heads Ashoka University's political science department, had described the briefings as "optics". In another comment, he had stated that "right-wing people" applauding Colonel Qureshi should demand protection for victims of mob lynchings and "arbitrary" bulldozing of properties.
Mahmudabad's lawyer has refuted the charges and said the remarks were within the bounds of academic and democratic discourse.
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