Aligarh Muslim University students

Uttar Pradesh

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on December 16, 2019 regarding the criminal cases registered against 20 named and 500 other unnamed student human rights defenders of Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh by UP police in Civil Lines police station, Aligarh on December 10, 2019 over their involvement in an anti-Citizenship Amendment Bill protest. They are all young student human rights defenders, including the former student union president Mr. Faizul Hussain, outgoing student union president Mr. Salman Imtiaz and one of the coordinators of protest Mr. Sharjeel Usmani.

The controversial Citizenship Bill has sparked protests and agitations across the country, with many calling it "unconstitutional" and against the secular idea of India. On December 10, 2019 evening, the AMU students took out a peaceful protest march from the University Library to the Bab-E-Sayyed gate against this Bill, demanding its withdrawal. According to the police, cases against the students were filed for defying orders under Section 144 which prohibits gathering of more than four people, and holding a protest near Faiz Gate in the campus. According to the police the students had violated this provision by marching up to the University Circle and trying to disturb the peace.

The Police FIR registered in Civil Lines police station, says the provisions of Section 144 had been in effect since November 8, 2019, and the students had been charged under Section 144, 147 (Punishment for rioting), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of Indian Penal Code by the District Administration. Sources informed that march Mr. Sharjeel Usmani, who was one of the coordinators of the protest, was threatened by the local police and he was told that he would be charged under National Security Act (NSA) if he fails to withdraw himself from the student activism.