Bail for Indian professor arrested for comments on India-Pakistan conflict
NEW DELHI — India's top court has granted interim bail to an Indian professor who was arrested over his remarks about the recent military hostilities between India and Pakistan.
Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an associate professor at Ashoka University, was arrested from his home in Delhi on Sunday.
He has been accused of endangering national sovereignty and promoting enmity between groups, based on a complaint filed by a youth member of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He denies the allegations.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ordered Mahmudabad's release but refused to put a hold on the investigation against him.
"Having regard to the two online posts that have led to the FIR [complaint], we are satisfied that no case of staying the investigation is made out," the court said, adding that a three-member special investigation team will further look into the case.
The judges have also barred Mahmudabad from writing any online article or making speeches online related to the posts that are being investigated.
Shortly after the verdict, Ashoka University released a statement saying it was "heartened" by the court's decision to grant Mahmudabad bail.
"It has provided great comfort to his family and all of us at Ashoka University," it said.
Mahmudabad's arrest had sparked criticism from academics and rights groups, who called the allegations "baseless" and the arrest a form of "censorship".
The case stems from two public social media posts written by Mahmudabad, in which he talked about India's military action against Pakistan.
Earlier this month, tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors reached an unprecedented high after India launched air strikes against Pakistan in response to a deadly attack in the tourist town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people. Delhi accused Islamabad of supporting militant groups involved in the killings, a charge Pakistan denied. This was followed by four days of military escalations, which ended with a ceasefire brokered by the US.
"There are those who are mindlessly advocating for war," the 42-year-old professor wrote in one post on 8 May, "but they have never seen one, let alone lived in or visited a conflict zone".
In the same post, he expressed support for India's response while warning of the brutality inherent in any war. He also highlighted the significance of two women officers -- one of whom is Muslim -- presenting the operation's details during daily media briefings.
"I am very happy to see so many right-wing commentators applauding Colonel Sofiya Qureshi," he wrote, but "they should also demand that the victims of mob lynching, arbitrary demolitions [of houses], others who are victims of the BJP's hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens". Several rights groups have pointed out that there has been a rise in violence and hate speech against Muslims in India in the past decade.
Two police complaints have been filed against the professor based on the interpretation of his online remarks.
The first complaint was filed by a BJP youth activist Yogesh (he uses only one name), on Saturday, on the basis of which Mahmudabad was arrested, his lawyer Mohammad Nizam Pasha said.
While the second complaint was filed by Renu Bhatia, the head of Haryana's State Commission for Women on Sunday.
The women's commission first issued a notice to the professor on 12 May, alleging that Mahmudabad's social media posts had "disparaged" the two women defense officers and "undermined their role" in the armed forces.
In response, Mahmudabad sent a written reply to the commission's notice and his lawyers also appeared before the commission on 14 May, but it refused to hear the lawyers, Pasha said.
In his written response, which he shared on social media, the academic said that his remarks had been "misunderstood" and that, contrary to the allegations, his post had actually praised the decision to have two women officers lead the military briefings.
"There is nothing remotely misogynistic about my comments that could be construed as anti-women," he said.
Several academics, activists, opposition politicians and civil society members have spoken against Mahmudabad's arrest.
Mahmudabad is a teacher of political science and his known for his works on religion, with a focus on Indian Muslim history.
He comes from an aristocratic family from Uttar Pradesh state and is a member of the regional Samajwadi Party.
After his arrest, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav posted a couplet on X, which included an indirect reference to the professor being arrested for telling the truth.
President of the main opposition Congress party, Mallikarjun Kharge, said the arrest of the professor shows how the BJP is "fearful" of any opinion disliked by them. — BBC
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
12 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Crown Prince calls on international community to end Israeli aggression on Gaza
Saudi Gazette report MINA — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed the role of the international community in ending the disastrous repercussions of the Israeli aggression on Gaza. He made the remarks while addressing the annual reception for heads of state, leaders of countries and distinguished dignitaries performing Hajj this year at the Royal Court of Mina Palace on Saturday. The Crown Prince delivered the speech on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. "This blessed Eid Al-Adha comes while our brothers in Palestine continue to suffer as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression. We emphasize the role of the international community in ending the disastrous repercussions of this aggression, as well as in protecting innocent civilians, and working toward a new reality where Palestine can enjoy peace in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions," he said. At the outset of the speech, the Crown Prince said: "It is our pleasure, from the vicinity of the Sacred House of God, to congratulate you and all Muslims around the world on the blessed Eid Al-Adha. We ask God Almighty to accept the pilgrims' Hajj and good deeds," he said. The Crown Prince highlighted Saudi Arabia's lofty position in serving Islam and Muslims, especially the Hajj pilgrims. "God Almighty has honored this country with the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, including Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors. Saudi Arabia has placed this at the forefront of its priorities, devoting all its capabilities to serving the guests of God and facilitating performance of their rituals in ease and comfort," he said while reaffirming that Saudi Arabia, with God's help and guidance, will continue this endeavor, recognizing the great responsibility and honor of service. "We ask God Almighty to perpetuate security and stability in our country, and in all Muslim countries and across the world, and to accept the Hajj of the pilgrims to the Sacred House of God, and enable them return safely to their families," the Crown Prince added. The reception was attended by several eminent Islamic figures, guests of the King, guests of government agencies, heads of delegations, and pilgrim affairs offices. The dignitaries included President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Vice President of Benin Mariam Chabi Talata Zimi Berima; and former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Hajj Guests Service Program Committee Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Secretary General of the Muslim World League for Jerusalem and Palestine and Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Hussein, and Syrian Minister of Endowments Sheikh Mohammed Abu al-Khair Shukri also spoke on the occasion. In his speech Al-Rabiah highlighted the most notable achievements of this year's Hajj season, including the implementation of 46 new energy projects with a total cost of over SR3 billion, as well as several projects in the transport and health sectors. This is in addition to several infrastructure projects with more than 300,000 square meters of shaded areas and updating of the Nusuk app to provide more than 130 digital services and streamlining of the Nusuk Masar digital platform.
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran Says US Travel Ban Shows 'Deep Hostility' for Iranians
Iran on Saturday blasted US President Donald Trump's travel ban on countries including Iran, saying it showed "deep hostility" toward Iranians and Muslims. "The decision to ban the entry of Iranian nationals - merely due to their religion and nationality - not only indicates the deep hostility of American decision-makers towards the Iranian people and Muslims but also violates... international law," a senior foreign ministry official said in a ministry statement posted on the X social media platform. Trump's proclamation on Wednesday will bar citizens from 12 countries starting on Monday at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT). The countries are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The ban, which Trump said was necessary to protect against "foreign terrorists", was reminiscent of a similar move he implemented during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021, when he barred travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Drought, rising prices and dwindling herds undercut this year's Eid Al-Adha in North Africa
CASABLANCA: Flocks of sheep once quilted Morocco's mountain pastures, stretched across Algeria's vast plateaus and grazed along Tunisia's green coastline. But the cascading effects of climate change have sparked a region-wide shortage that is being felt acutely as Muslims throughout North Africa celebrate Eid Al-Adha. Each year, Muslims slaughter sheep to honor a passage of the Qur'an in which the prophet Ibrahim prepared to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, who intervened and replaced the child with a sheep. But this year, rising prices and falling supply are creating new challenges, breeders and potential buyers throughout the region say. At a market in suburban Algiers last week, breeders explained to angry patrons that their prices had increased because the cost of everything needed to raise sheep, including animal feed, transport and veterinary care, had grown. Slimane Aouadi stood watching livestock pens, discussing with his wife whether to buy a sheep to celebrate this year's Eid. 'It's the same sheep as the one I bought last year, the same look and the same weight, but it costs $75 more,' Aouadi, a doctor, said. Amid soaring inflation, sheep can sell for more than $1,200, an exorbitant amount in a country where average monthly incomes hover below $270. Tradition meets reality Any disruption to the ritual sacrifice can be sensitive, a blow to religious tradition and source of anger toward rising prices and the hardship they bring. So Morocco and Algeria have resorted to unprecedented measures. Algerian officials earlier this year announced plans to import a staggering 1 million sheep to make up for domestic shortages. Morocco's King Mohammed VI broke with tradition and urged Muslims to abstain from the Eid sacrifice. Local officials across the kingdom have closed livestock markets, preventing customers from buying sheep for this year's celebrations. 'Our country is facing climatic and economic challenges that have resulted in a substantial decline in livestock numbers. Performing the sacrifice in these difficult circumstances will cause real harm to large segments of our people, especially those with limited incomes,' the king, who is also Morocco's highest religious authority, wrote in a February letter read on national television. Trucks have unloaded thousands of sheep in new markets in Algiers and the surrounding suburbs. University of Toulouse agro-economist Lotfi Gharnaout told the state-run newspaper El Moudjahid that Algeria's import strategy could cost between $230 and $260 million and still not even meet nationwide demand. Thinning pastures Overgrazing has long strained parts of North Africa where the population is growing and job opportunities beyond herding and farming are scarce. But after seven years of drought, it's the lack of rainfall and skyrocketing feed prices that are now shrinking herds. Drought conditions, experts say, have degraded forage lands where shepherds graze their flocks and farmers grow cereals to be sold as animal feed. With less supply, prices have spiked beyond the reach of middle class families who have historically purchased sheep for slaughter. Moroccan economist Najib Akesbi said shrinking herds stemmed directly from vegetation loss in grazing areas. The prolonged drought has compounded inflation already fueled by the war in Ukraine. 'Most livestock farming in North Africa is pastoral, which means it's farming that relies purely on nature, like wild plants and forests, and vegetation that grows off rainwater,' Akesbi, a former professor at Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, said. For breeders, he added, livestock serve as a kind of bank, assets they sell to cover expenses and repay debts. With consecutive years of drought and rising feed costs, breeders are seeing their reserves drained. Pressed herders With less natural vegetation, breeders have to spend more on supplemental feed, Acharf Majdoubi, president of Morocco's Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders said. In good years, pastures can nourish nearly all of what sheep flocks require, but in dry years, it can be as low as half or a third of the feed required. 'We have to make up the rest by buying feed like straw and barley,' he said. Not only do they need more feed. The price of barley, straw and alfalfa – much of which has to be imported – has also spiked. In Morocco, the price of barley and straw are three times what they were before the drought, while the price of alfalfa has more than doubled. 'The future of this profession is very difficult. Breeders leave the countryside to immigrate to the city, and some will never come back,' Achraf Majdoubi said.
