Umar Khalid’s father, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, reveals his recent meeting with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani amid ongoing controversies surrounding his son’s imprisonment.
NEW DELHI — In light of the controversy surrounding a handwritten letter from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to imprisoned student activist Umar Khalid, Khalid’s father, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, disclosed on January 2 that he met the mayor during a visit to the United States last month.
Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, who also serves as a spokesperson for the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, stated that Mamdani wrote a letter in support of Umar Khalid and personally delivered it to him. Ilyas expressed gratitude for Mamdani’s previous acknowledgment of his son’s work, recalling that the mayor had read excerpts from Khalid’s prison diary about two years ago.
Ilyas lamented the situation of his son, describing it as extremely unfortunate that a promising young activist, who campaigned against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) while advocating for the rights of tribals and Dalits, has been incarcerated for nearly five years without trial or bail.
During the meeting, Ilyas noted that Mamdani assured him of all possible assistance regarding Khalid’s case. He mentioned that the mayor had also met with two U.S. Congressmen who pledged their support in the matter.
Following this meeting, Mamdani’s handwritten note, which expressed solidarity with Khalid, gained significant attention on social media platforms.
Regarding the ongoing legal battle for Umar Khalid’s bail, Ilyas shared that he was present during the recent Supreme Court hearings and expressed hope for a favorable outcome in the near future.
Umar Khalid, a student at Jawaharlal Nehru University and a prominent activist, has been detained for nearly five years in connection with the February 2020 Delhi riots.
When questioned about whether he wished for Mamdani to communicate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the case, Ilyas clarified that he had not made such a request. “This is an internal matter of the country and should be resolved within the country itself,” he stated.
In discussing the broader situation of Muslims in India, Ilyas expressed concern over the prevailing attitudes towards the community. He highlighted issues of discrimination, noting that Muslim homes are being demolished and young Muslims are being wrongfully implicated in various cases. He criticized the lack of action against individuals who make inflammatory statements against the community, asserting that such developments do not reflect well on India’s image.
According to IANS, the situation surrounding Umar Khalid continues to draw attention both domestically and internationally, as advocates call for justice and fair treatment in the ongoing legal proceedings.