In solidarity with students arrested on terrorism charges in Delhi, India

To:  Prof Mushirul Hasan, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Milia Islamia

26 September 2008

Dear Prof Mushirul Hasan,

The Delhi Police recently conducted, what is widely believed as a staged encounter, of the men allegedly involved in the 19 September Delhi blasts. Two young men, one of them just 17-year-old, were gunned down in cold blood. Two others were arrested, and two allegedly escaped.

The real drama started a day after as three others – Mohammad Shakeel, Zia-ur-Rehman and Saquib Nissar – were taken into custody. Incidentally, both Shakeel and Zia are students of the Jamia Milia Islamia university. All three were paraded in front of the media wearing the white and red checked scarf, usually worn by Arabs, also known as the Paletinian rumaal. This was the worst form of racial and communal profiling. The police was quick to brand the three youth as terrorists without actually ascertaining the extent of or the existence of any role in the Delhi blasts.

Soon thereafter, the Jamia Milia Islamia university, with you as the vice chancellor came down heavily on the media for abusing their power and status for launching a witch hunt against a community. You, with the consent of the academic council decided to provide legal help and support to the two students of the university on the premise of innocent until proven guilty by the law.

As fellow students who deplore the recent acts of the Delhi police and the media, especially the television media, we express solidarity with both Shakeel and Zia and stand by your decision to provide them with legal aid. We will do all we can to prevent India from becoming a lawless, fascist state.

In solidarity,

Roshni Sengupta

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The In solidarity with students arrested on terrorism charges in Delhi, India Petition to Prof Mushirul Hasan, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Milia Islamia was created by and written by Roshni Sengupta (rosh.sengupta@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.