Gender: Male
Perpetrator: India
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other
Health Concerns: Depression, diabetes, anxiety, poor eyesight
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Date of Detainment: October/5/2020
Date of Release: February/2/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Identity Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations
Nature of Charges: Breach of Privacy & Disclosure Fabricating & Destroying Evidence Hate Speech Illicit Financing Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Siddique Kappan
Extra Bio Info:
Siddique Kappan was detained on for his religious identity and for reporting on religious freedom conditions.
On October 5, 2020, authorities arrested Kappan, a Muslim journalist, on his way to Hathras District in Uttar Pradesh to cover a rape case of a Dalit girl that sparked nationwide protests. Kappan was reportedly held incommunicado for two days.
On October 7, 2020, Uttar Pradesh authorities revealed that Kappan was being investigated for sedition (Sec. 124-A IPC), "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc." (Sec. 153A IPC), “deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs” (Sec. 295A IPC), “knowingly holding property derived or obtained from the commission of a terrorist act” (Sec. 14 Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)), raising funds for terrorist acts (Sec. 17 UAPA), “destroying digital evidence” (Sec. 65 Information Technology Act), and “breach of confidentiality and privacy” (Sec. 72 Information Technology Act).
In February 2021, India’s Enforcement Directorate filed charges against Kappan and four others, claiming that they were members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and had been involved in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the February 2020 Northeast Delhi riots, and protests surrounding the death of the Dalit woman in Hathras.
On April 4, 2021, the Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh police filed a roughly 5,000 page charge sheet against Kappan. They reportedly accused him of only reporting “to incite Muslims.” The chargesheet also included text from 36 articles Kappan wrote about ongoing religious and sectarian issues in India. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Kappan's lawyer and family have not yet received the full chargesheet, thus hindering his defense.
On April 15, 2021, the Supreme Court granted Kappan bail for five days to visit his ill mother.
On April 21, 2021, Kappan tested positive for COVID-19 after falling in the bathroom the day before. He was reportedly transferred to a Delhi hospital on April 30, 2021, and then later returned to prison on May 7, 2021.
In June 2021, a Mathura court dropped a breach of peace charge against Kappan.
On December 13, 2021, a Mathura court transferred Kappan’s case to a special court of the National Investigation Agency in Lucknow.
On September 9, 2022, the Supreme Court granted bail to Kappan. He was not released from jail due to other pending charges.
On December 23, 2022, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Kappan.
On February 2, 2023, Kappan was released from prison.
In addition to catching COVID-19, Kappan reportedly suffers from depression, diabetes, anxiety, and poor eyesight. He was reportedly unable to receive adequate medical care while imprisoned.
Related Cases: Atikur Rahman
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Shaheen Abdulla via Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
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“Siddique Kappan” Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
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"‘After 28 months and a long fight, I am out’: Journalist Siddique Kappan walks out of UP jail" The Indian Express
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"Journalist Siddique Kappan gets bail after two years in UP jail" The Indian Express
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USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in India November 2022
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"Journalist Siddique Kappan gets bail in Supreme Court after nearly two years in custody" Scroll.in
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USCIRF Tweet May 3, 2022
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“UP STF files 5,000-page chargesheet against journalist Kappan, seven others” The Indian Express
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Texts)
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy
Danish Ali
Extra Bio Info:
Danish Ali was detained for blasphemy.
On an unspecified date, authorities arrested Ali after he was accused of insulting to the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad during an argument with his mother. He was charged with “desecrating the Qur’an” (Sec. 295-B PPC).
In July 2022, Ali was acquitted.
On an unspecified date, Ali was released from prison.
Dec 17, 2021
Pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), the State Department is required to issue annual designations for the most egregious violators of religious freedom. In advance of these designations, USCIRF recommends in its Annual Report each year the countries the State Department should designate as such.
The State Department issued its latest list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) and countries placed on its Special Watch List (SWL) on November 17, 2021—which included some USCIRF recommendations, but with notable exclusions.
USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza joins us today to discuss the State Department’s designations, how they differ from USCIRF’s recommendations, and consider the role of these designations in promoting and protecting religious freedom around the world.
Read USCIRF’s Factsheet on State Department Designations
Read USCIRF’s press release responding to the State Department designations