On May 7, Rejaz Sydeek, an Indian journalist and member of the communist Democratic Student Association, was arrested by police in the city of Nagpur under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) while on his way to a press conference in New Delhi to support imprisoned journalists in India. The UAPA is a set of "anti-terrorism" laws introduced in 1967, the year of the Naxalbari uprising. More than 97 percent of those arrested under the UAPA have remained in prison without being proven guilty. The Indian government accuses him of spreading anti-nationalist propaganda, citing as evidence his possession of a number of revolutionary texts and pamphlets, as well as an Instagram post condemning India's warmongering in occupied Kashmir. One of the documents found in Rejaz's possession was a pamphlet from the Maoist magazine Nazariya, condemning India's Kagaar operation against the Naxalites. He is currently still in custody in Maharashtra, where he has been remanded in judicial custody till June 2.
Stand Up to the Witch Hunt of Activists!
Journalism is Not Terrorism!
Free All Jailed Journalists!
Free All Political Prisoners!
