Eight lawmakers from the United States have penned a letter to Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, urging India to grant bail and a free trial “in accordance to international law” to Umar Khalid, who is an accused in a larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 North East Delhi riots.
In the letter dated December 30, 2025, the U.S. lawmakers pledged support to the jailed student activist and sought the government to “share the steps being taken to ensure that the judicial proceedings against Umar Khalid and those of his co-accused who remain in detention comport with international standards’.
This follows another separate letter from newly sworn in Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani who penned a note remembering Mr. Khalid and his meeting with Mr. Khalid’s parents.
The letter by the U.S. lawmakers was shared by Democrat Jim McGovern, who is also the Co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. The others who had signed on it include Democrat Jamie Raskin, Indian-origin Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Lloyd Dogget, Rashid Tlaib, and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen, and Peter Welch.
As per the letter, Mr. McGovern and others had met Umar Khalid's parents earlier in December. “Representative Raskin and I are leading our colleagues to urge that he be granted bail and a fair, timely trial in accordance with international law,” he said, sharing the signed letter in a post on X.
“Umar Khalid has been detained without bail for 5 years under UAPA, which independent human rights experts have warned may contravene international standards of equality before the law, due process and proportionality...India must uphold the rights of individuals to receive a trial with reasonable time or to be release and be presume innocent until proven guilty...,” the letter reads.
In his note Mr. Mamdani wrote: "I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume one's self. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you."
Shared on social media by Khalid’s partner Banojyotsna, the note was handed over to Mr. Khalid’s parents when he met them during their trip to the U.S. in December 2025.
Mr. Khalid was recently out on interim bail to attend his sister’s wedding.
Delhi’s Karkardooma court granted him bail from December 16 to December 29. The conditional bail included a clause that he will not use social media and will meet only his family members, relatives and friends. He has been ordered to remain at home or the venue of the wedding and other ceremonies.
Mr. Khalid was arrested in September 2020 under charges like criminal conspiracy, rioting, unlawful assembly and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). His bail plea is pending before the Supreme Court.
Curated by Dr. Elena Rodriguez
