Educationist, popular historian Sohail Hashmi targeted under oppressive UAPA

Statement in support of veteran cultural activist Sohail Hashmi, whose house was raided in Delhi along with that of several senior journalists on October 3 morning, endorsed by nearly 600 individuals:

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We the undersigned strongly condemn the Delhi police special cell action against journalists including Urmilesh, Abhisar Sharma, Bhasha Singh, Githa Hariharan, Aunindyo Chakravarthy, Sumedha Pal, D Raghunandan, Sanjay Rajaura, Aditi Nigam and several others. Along with these names we would like to register our condemnation on the harassment of Mr. Sohail Hashmi.
Around 6 am on 3rd October 2023 Delhi police special cell raided Sohail Hashmi’s house, in the Newsclick case which is now being investigated under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). His family was harassed in early morning commotion where police personnel barged into his house, including his and his daughter’s bedroom. The cops have eventually seized his personal computer, hard disc along with the flash drives – all containing significant files of his work life. This raid in the name of law was one among many similar such attacks carried out by the special cell in the NCR today, where scores of journalists, intellectuals and activists have been questioned – while some have been taken for further questioning – and their personal works have been seized.
We the strongly condemned this outrageously fiendish act of the government whereby they are hellbent to stifle every dissenting voice with vicious impunity.
We of course not be silenced by such intimidating tactics of the government where an educationist, film maker, a popular historian, a person committed to the secular fabric of the country like Sohail Hashmi is being targeted in an investigation under oppressive UAPA. The law which is infamous for wilfully targeting the members of minority community in its brief history of tyrannical operation is well documented by now. We would like to put it on record that Sohail Hashmi’s work, if it’s about anything, it is about cherishing and preserving India’s unique composite culture and its intellectual history. His work among children and on inculcating the conserving ethics about our shared history and heritage doesn’t require any further introduction. We are particularly appalled at the behaviour met to senior citizens like Sohail Hashmi, and numerous others whose houses have been raided today and were treated like criminals.
We would like to emphasise that the investigation now being made under UAPA should desist from framing innocent citizens exercising their constitutional right. We appeal all to come together in strengthening the hands of journalists, and intellectuals in such dire times and call out the wretched tactics of the government of the day in one voice.
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Click here for those who have endorsed the statement

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