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 in relation to his religious activity.
On June 20, 2021, authorities arrested Gautam - a Muslim convert, Islamic scholar, and founder of the Islamic Da’wah Centre - and his colleague after he and his organization were accused of forcibly converting thousands to Islam, including students with hearing disabilities, arranging marriages for converts, and receiving funding from abroad. He was charged with conspiracy, cheating and outraging religious feelings as well as under sections of Uttar Pradesh’s Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.
On June 25, 2021, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a case under the 2002 Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Gautam to investigate allegations of foreign funding and money laundering.
In September 2021, a Lucknow court accepted an application from the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police to charge Gautam and other involved in the case 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).
On February 11, 2022, Gautam was granted bail in one of the cases against him. However, he was forced to remain in prison for other pending charges.
Gautam is believed to be held in Lucknow Jail.
Gautam's family has also been targeted, including his son Abdullah Gautam who was arrested in November 2021 for his alleged involvement in conversions.
Gautam is married with two sons and one daughter.
Related Cases: Qazi Jahangir Qasmi, Abdullah Gautam
Sources:
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“Religious conversion accused granted bail in Fatehpur case” Times of India
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"Religious Conversion Row: UP ATS Arrests Abdullah, Son of Accused Umar Gautam" The Quint
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“5 lakh ‘forced’ into Islam, funds from Gulf, UK: What UP ATS found in ‘conversion racket’ probe” The Print
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"8 arrested in UP for ‘illegal conversion’ charged with waging war against India" The Indian Express
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“Born a Hindu, Held For ‘Forcible Conversions’: Who is Umar Gautam?” The Quint
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“Two Delhi men were accused of illegally converting thousands to Islam. But what is the case?” Scroll.in
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“The curious case of ‘1,000 conversions’: Who is Umar Gautam?” News Laundry
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“ED files money laundering case in Uttar Pradesh religious conversion racket” India Today
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“UP Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad arrests two for religious conversion of deaf and dumb children” India Today