In a fleeting moment of humanity within a legal battle that has stretched on five years, Khalid Saifi, jailed without bail or trial for nearly five years, shared an emotional exchange with his daughter during a virtual court hearing on Monday.
At the hearing to frame charges in “larger conspiracy case” linked to the 2020 Delhi violence, Judge Sameer Bajpai allowed prominent Muslim activist Khalid Saifi’s daughter to wish him a happy birthday.
What followed was a brief but deeply moving conversation between a father and his child—one that underscored the toll of prolonged incarceration.
“Happy birthday, Appu Ji,” she said.
“Thank you, mera bacha. I love you, betu,” he responded.
“I love you too. I miss you, Appu Ji.”
“I miss you too. I miss you a lot.”
“I’m not crying. I’m happy to see you,” he reassured her.
Saifi, a co-founder of the activist group United Against Hate, was arrested in March 2020 under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and has been behind bars ever since.
He, along with several rights activists, Muslim leaders and students, has been accused of being part of a “conspiracy” behind the Northeast Delhi violence that claimed 53 lives, mostly Muslims. However, rights groups including United Nations Human Rights Office argue that the charges are politically motivated and that the case is being used to criminalise dissent against the discriminatory citizenship policies by Narendra Modi government.
Despite his long imprisonment, Saifi has remained resolute, often appearing in court hearings with a quiet dignity. His case, along with that of several other activists, has drawn widespread criticism for the excessive delays in trial and the prolonged pretrial detention under UAPA, which makes securing bail nearly impossible.
