UN experts urge Indian government to release Sikh blogger Jagtar Singh Johal

United Nations experts have urged the Indian authorities to release Jagtar Singh Johal, who was arrested in Punjab in late 2017 and has remained in prison since. Allegations have been made that he was tortured and threatened with death in custody.

Johal, a Scottish Sikh activist, was accused of plotting terrorist attacks against right-wing Hindu leaders. He was acquitted of terrorism charges by the District Court in Moga, Punjab, in March 2025, but remains in prison while other cases continue. His legal team says all remaining charges should be dropped.

 

 

 

 

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Ten UN independent experts, including special rapporteurs focused on torture prevention, said in a joint statement that the 39-year-old had been arbitrarily detained for more than eight years. They said his continued imprisonment raised concerns about the misuse of anti-terrorism law, the presumption of innocence and the prospect of him effectively being retried on similar allegations.

His brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, met Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in December as part of efforts to secure his release.

India's treatment of minorities highlighted

Johal and his supporters have said he has spoken out about the treatment of Sikhs and other minorities in India, and has advocated for human rights.

A spokesperson for the Baku Initiative Group, based in Azerbaijan, told AnewZ:

"Baku Initiative Group expresses its serious concern over continued detention of Scottish citizen of Sikh origin, blogger, and human rights defender Jagtar Singh Johal, and affirms its support for the call made by United Nations experts for his immediate release."

They said no state could rely on national security to avoid accountability or justify prolonged deprivation of liberty, and that extended detention could amount to an abuse of international law.

"Accordingly, Baku Initiative Group calls upon government of India to release Mr. Jagtar Singh Johal without further delay, to withdraw any remaining charges that lack a lawful and substantiated basis, and to ensure the conduct of an independent, impartial, and effective investigation into the treatment he has received while in custody," they added.

The Indian government has repeatedly denied that Johal was mistreated and has said due process has been followed.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "We continue to raise concerns about Mr Johal's prolonged detention at every appropriate opportunity with the government of India.

"We have made clear that faster progress is needed to reach a resolution, including a full investigation into Mr Johal's allegations of torture."

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