India Rejects US Commission's Remarks on Jailed Activist Sharjeel Imam

NEW DELHI, November 14, 2026: India has rejected remarks by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) describing jailed activist Sharjeel Imam as a Muslim detained for his religious freedom advocacy, accusing the American body of making biased and politically motivated assessments of the country's human rights record.

India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, responded to the commission's post on social media platform X, saying it had “no locus standi” to comment on the constitutional rights of Indian citizens.

Accusing USCIRF of repeatedly issuing partisan, ill-informed and biased assessments of India's commitment to religious freedom, Kwatra said such allegations could not undermine the country's constitutional principles. He urged the commission to examine its own prejudices instead of passing judgement on other nations.

The diplomatic response followed a USCIRF post featuring Imam's profile, describing him as “a Muslim man detained in India for his religious freedom advocacy”. The commission monitors religious freedom worldwide and makes policy recommendations to the US government.

Imam, a former student activist, was arrested in January 2020 in connection with protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He was subsequently charged in the case relating to an alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

The Delhi Police Special Cell is investigating the case, which includes charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Authorities have accused Imam of delivering speeches that allegedly incited communal violence. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.

Separately, a Delhi court on October 10 declined to entertain a police application seeking cancellation of Imam's seven-day interim bail, granted from October 4 to 10 to attend his cousin's wedding.

The prosecution had alleged that Imam violated bail conditions prohibiting media interaction after video footage appeared to show him in a room where a journalist was interviewing his brother. His counsel disputed the allegation, arguing that the footage did not establish any direct interaction between Imam and the journalist.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Courts declined to cancel the interim relief after Imam's counsel informed the court that he would return to Delhi and surrender before the jail authorities.

The exchange between New Delhi and USCIRF underscores continuing differences over international assessments of religious freedom in India and the interpretation of constitutional protections in cases involving individuals facing criminal charges.

Courtesy : New Indian Express