Rehman

Human Rights Defender

Uttar Pradesh.

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on June 19, 2020 regarding harassment, illegal arrest, and fabricated charges against Mr. Rehman, President of the Alumni Association of Jamia Millia Islamia (AAJMI) University and a member of the Jamia Coordination Committee.

On April 26, 2020, a member of the Special Cell of Delhi Police asked Mr. Rehman to report to the Mawana Police Station in Uttar Pradesh for questioning in relation with a case (FIR No. 59/2020) without any prior notice. Though he was told that he would be taken to Delhi for further inquiry and dropped back the same night, he was taken to the Mawana police station and arrested by the Special Cell. He was also made to sign on papers under pressure, and his mobile phone, laptop, bank documents and documents from AAJMI’s office including literature, anti-CAA posters, membership fee receipts and scholarship programme receipts were seized without any memos. 

Mr. Rehman was arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by Mr. Arvind Kumar, Sub Inspector, North Cell, CBI, in which Mr. Kumar claimed that secret sources had told him that the February 23-25 riots in Delhi were a planned conspiracy. Though Mr. Rehman was not named in the FIR (no. 59/2020 dated March 3, 2020) and no details of his involvement in the riots was mentioned, he was charged under Sections 147, 148, 149 read with 120(B), 124A, 302, 307, 353, 186, 212, 395, 427, 435, 436, 452, 454, 109, 114, 147, 148, 149, 153(A), and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, and Sections 13, 16, 17 and 18 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). 

Mr. Rehman’s police custody was extended by the Additional Sessions Judge till May 16, 2020, during which time he was subjected to brutal physical and verbal assault. His hearing was scheduled on June 14, 2020 and he was allowed to speak to family members while in judicial custody.