NYC mayor’s letter to detained activist triggers diplomatic rebuke from Modi government
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced sharp criticism from the Indian government after his letter to detained student activist Umar Khalid was publicized, prompting a diplomatic rebuke from New Delhi. Mamdani wrote to Khalid in early December after meeting the activist’s parents in New York, expressing solidarity with the imprisoned student. When the letter circulated on social media, India’s external affairs ministry issued a formal statement condemning Mamdani’s “personal prejudices” and telling him to focus on his own responsibilities.
The Umar Khalid Detention
Umar Khalid, a prominent Indian student activist, has been imprisoned since September 2020 without trial for nearly five and a half years. Khalid was accused of involvement in the February 2020 New Delhi riots, which killed more than 50 people, largely Muslims, after Hindu right-wing mobs attacked peaceful sit-ins during protests against changes to citizenship law.
The UAPA Law and Prolonged Detention
Khalid was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, a law that allows for prolonged detention and makes bail exceptionally difficult. Over the past five years, Khalid’s bail applications have been rejected repeatedly, and on Monday, India’s Supreme Court again rejected his bail application.
International Human Rights Concerns
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) considers Khalid as being persecuted for “protesting religious freedom conditions”. USCIRF recommends designating India as a “Country of Particular Concern” for its intolerance towards religious minorities. These international designations provide context for why American officials, including NYC’s mayor, have begun expressing concern about Khalid’s detention.
Mamdani’s Letter and Its Contents
Mamdani’s letter to Khalid stated: “Dear Umar, 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.” The brief letter conveyed solidarity and encouragement while referencing Khalid’s personal resilience in the face of prolonged detention.
India’s Formal Diplomatic Rebuke
Randhir Jaiswal from India’s external affairs ministry issued a statement saying: “On the issue of comments made by the Mayor of New York, we expect public representatives to be respectful of the independence of judiciaries in other democracies.” “Expressing personal prejudices does not behoove those in office,” Jaiswal added, telling the NYC mayor that “Instead of such comments, it would be better to focus on the responsibilities entrusted to them.”
The Sovereignty Question
India’s response frames Mamdani’s letter as an inappropriate intrusion into Indian judicial proceedings. The Modi government characterizes Khalid’s detention as a legitimate criminal prosecution and views international criticism as unwarranted interference in Indian sovereignty. However, Amnesty International said: “While we welcome the court’s decision to grant bail to their co-accused, it is shameful that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam continue to be denied bail. Neither of these individuals should be in detention in the first place. They have been detained for more than five years without trial on politically motivated allegations.”
Congressional Support for Khalid
Mamdani is not alone in supporting Khalid’s case. Eight U.S. lawmakers wrote a letter to Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra dated December 30, urging India to grant Khalid bail and a fair trial “in accordance with international law.” Signatories included Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern, co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, as well as Representatives Jamie Raskin, Pramila Jayapal, Jan Schakowsky, Lloyd Doggett, and Rashida Tlaib; and Senators Chris Van Hollen and Peter Welch.
The Political Context of Religious Persecution
The February 2020 New Delhi riots occurred following the Modi government’s controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, which expedited citizenship for persecuted Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Christians from neighboring countries while excluding Muslims. Muslim protesters against the exclusionary law faced attacks from Hindu right-wing mobs, precipitating a deadly riot that human rights observers characterize as the most violent episode in New Delhi since the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.
Targeting of Student Activists and Muslims
Indian police arrested more than 2,000 people, with 18 student leaders and activists, many of them Muslim, arrested on accusations of orchestrating the violence. Human rights organizations contend this targeting reflects bias in New Delhi’s police force, which has been accused of discriminating against Muslims.
Mamdani’s Identity and Indian Connection
Mamdani brings particular resonance to defending Khalid given his Pakistani-American heritage and his own advocacy for Muslim rights. His election as NYC mayor is viewed by many Indian Muslims as symbolically important, representing political influence for a marginalized religious minority in a South Asian context. This identity positioning makes his engagement with Khalid’s case politically meaningful in India while also putting him in direct confrontation with the Modi government.
Future U.S.-India Relations and Mayoral Diplomacy
Mamdani’s Khalid advocacy tests the boundaries of what city-level officials can appropriately do on international human rights issues. While Congress members routinely engage with international human rights concerns, mayors typically focus on municipal issues. Mamdani’s willingness to openly support a detained activist despite diplomatic rebuke signals commitment to human rights principles even when costly internationally. The coming months will reveal whether India-U.S. relations at the federal level affect NYC’s standing or whether Mamdani can maintain independent human rights advocacy as a municipal leader.
