Gulfisha Fatima
{{Short description|Indian activist (born 1993)}}
{{Orphan|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1993}}
| birth_place = Delhi
| alma_mater = Delhi University
| occupation = Activist, Radio personality
| known_for = Student activism
| notable_works = Citizenship Amendment Act protests
}}
Gulfisha Fatima (born 1993) is an Indian student activist from Delhi, known for her involvement in protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) and her advocacy for religious freedom and secularism. She gained significant attention for her role in peaceful demonstrations in Selampur, Delhi, which were part of a larger nationwide CAA Protest, a law criticised for allegedly discriminating against Muslims in India.
Fatima is currently lodged in Tihar Jail since 9 April 2020. Despite getting a bail, she’s still imprisoned without any trial in an alleged conspiracy case.
Arrest
Fatima was arrested on April 9, 2020, during the protests related to the 2020 Delhi riots, and has since been charged under multiple serious offences, including rioting, conspiracy, and violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-11-30 |title=Gulfisha, Khalid seeks bail on grounds of parity |url=https://sundayguardianlive.com/legally-speaking/gulfisha-khalid-seeks-bail-on-grounds-of-parity |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Sunday Guardian Live |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Kakkar |first=Shruti |date=8 Jan 2025 |title='Ruthless' conspiracy: Delhi Police opposes bail to 2020 riots accused |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/ruthless-conspiracy-delhi-police-opposes-bail-to-2020-riots-accused-101736274506401.html |work=Hindustan Times}}
Her arrest has been characterised by many as politically motivated, aimed at suppressing dissent against the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Despite being granted bail in some cases, she remains incarcerated due to ongoing charges under the UAPA, which has drawn international scrutiny and calls for her release from various human rights organisations, including the United Nations and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=Delhi Riots: Gulfisha Fatima, Booked For Terrorism, Is Quiet, Studious And Has A Strong Sense Of Justice, Says Family |url=https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/delhi-riots-gulfisha-fatima-anti-caa-protests_in_5f3ac140c5b670ab17ae5a91 |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Delhi Riots: New Charges, Multiple Bail Rejections Keep Gulfisha Fatima Lodged in Jail for 3 Years |url=https://thewire.in/law/delhi-riots-new-charges-multiple-bail-rejections-keep-gulfisha-fatima-lodged-in-jail-for-3-years |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Wire |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-07-02 |title=Gulfisha Fatima |url=https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/gulfisha-fatima |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Front Line Defenders |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2024-11-11 |title=2020 Delhi riots: SC refuses to entertain Gulfisha Fatima's bail plea, asks HC to hear case on Nov. 25 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/2020-delhi-riots-sc-refuses-to-entertain-gulfisha-fatimas-bail-plea-asks-hc-to-to-hear-case-on-nov-25/article68854943.ece |access-date=2025-01-01 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-30 |title=Gulfisha Fatima {{!}} USCIRF |url=https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/gulfisha-fatima |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=United States Commission on International Religious Freedom |language=en}}
Imprisonment without trial
As of early 2025, Fatima has been in Indefinite detention for nearly four years without any trial in a controversial conspiracy case, despite widespread criticism from human rights groups.{{Cite web |last=Noor |first=Aliza |date=2024-08-09 |title=A Family's Endless Wait For Their Gul — The Gulfisha Fatima Story |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/a-familys-endless-wait-for-their-gul-the-gulfisha-fatima-story |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}{{Cite web |author=Scroll Staff |date=2021-06-18 |title=Delhi violence: HC adjourns activist Gulfisha Fatima's plea for release, cites large number of cases |url=https://scroll.in/latest/997889/delhi-violence-hc-adjourns-activist-gulfisha-fatimas-plea-for-release-cites-large-number-of-cases |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}
Her case is emblematic of broader concerns regarding the treatment of activists and religious minorities in India, particularly in the context of the CAA protests and the subsequent riots in Delhi.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-11 |title=Northeast Delhi riots: SC declines to entertain bail plea of Gulfisha Fatima, directs high court to hear matter |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/northeast-delhi-riots-sc-gulfisha-fatima-bail-plea-9664403/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Waiting for Gul: The Story of Gulfisha Fatima |url=https://thewire.in/rights/waiting-for-gul-the-story-of-gulfisha-fatima |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Wire |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Fatima |first=Heena |date=2024-09-19 |title=Families of Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima call out VIP culture in bail. Want police reform |url=https://theprint.in/feature/around-town/families-of-umar-khalid-gulfisha-fatima-call-out-vip-culture-in-bail-want-police-reform/2274852/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Gulfisha Fatima was born into a Muslim family in Delhi. She went to pursue Urdu Honours from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, and then completed her MBA from Institute of Management Education in Ghaziabad. She was working as a radio jockey before getting arrested in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Maktoob |date=2023-01-08 |title=Mere presence at meeting not crime, Gulfisha Fatima to HC in Delhi pogrom UAPA case |url=https://maktoobmedia.com/india/mere-presence-at-meeting-not-crime-gulfisha-fatima-to-hc-in-delhi-pogrom-uapa-case/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Maktoob media |language=en-US}}