The trial and judgment against Maulana Kaleem Siddique, Umar Gautam and others starkly contradict the basic values of humanity and the freedoms enshrined in our Constitution. It represents another gross miscarriage of justice under the Hindutva regime. This verdict suppresses the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and the freedom to practice and propagate one’s faith.

These actions are part of a broader, systematic effort by right-wing forces to undermine the organic process of spiritual discovery, engagement with religious discourses and voluntary exercise of freedom of conscience. We strongly condemn this judgement and hope higher courts shall revoke such unconstitutional order.