Umar Gautam
Additional Name(s): Mohammad Umar Gautam
Gender: Male
Current Location: Lucknow Jail, Lucknow
Perpetrator: India
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: June/20/2021
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Managing a Religious Institution Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Conversion Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Embezzlement & Fraud Hate Speech Treason & Sedition
Umar Gautam
Extra Bio Info:
Umar Gautam is detained for his religious activity.
In June 2021, authorities arrested Gautam, a Muslim convert, Islamic scholar, and founder of the Islamic Da’wah Centre, after his organization was accused of forcibly converting thousands to Islam. Authorities charged him with conspiracy, cheating, and outraging religious feelings under Uttar Pradesh’s Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. In September 2021, authorities also charged Gautam with “conspiracy to commit offences” waging war against the state (Sec. 121A IPC) and "concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war" (Sec. 123 IPC).
Publicly Available Information:
- "Mass Conversion 'Racket'| "Evidence Show He Carried Anti-National Activities": Allahabad HC Denies Bail To Umar Gautam, 4 Others" Live Law.in
- “Religious conversion accused granted bail in Fatehpur case” Times of India
- "Religious Conversion Row: UP ATS Arrests Abdullah, Son of Accused Umar Gautam" The Quint
- “5 lakh ‘forced’ into Islam, funds from Gulf, UK: What UP ATS found in ‘conversion racket’ probe” The Print
- "8 arrested in UP for ‘illegal conversion’ charged with waging war against India" The Indian Express
- “Born a Hindu, Held For ‘Forcible Conversions’: Who is Umar Gautam?” The Quint
- “Two Delhi men were accused of illegally converting thousands to Islam. But what is the case?” Scroll.in
- “The curious case of ‘1,000 conversions’: Who is Umar Gautam?” News Laundry
- “ED files money laundering case in Uttar Pradesh religious conversion racket” India Today
- “UP Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad arrests two for religious conversion of deaf and dumb children” India Today