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