UN found Johal’s detention arbitrary in 2022
Jagtar Singh Johal, a 39-year-old Scottish Sikh activist, was released from an Indian prison on Thursday after nearly nine years of detention without a conviction, according to United Press International.
The release followed a Sept. 18 order from India’s high court, which set conditions: Johal must surrender his passport and is barred from speaking to the media about his case. Early Thursday morning, the court again directed the government to release him, giving authorities three hours to comply.
Indian authorities detained Johal in 2017, weeks after his wedding in India, on allegations that he was involved in terrorist activities, including the killings of religious and political figures. Johal has denied the accusations. He has faced federal charges in multiple cases but has never been convicted in connection with the alleged offenses.
The Indian government alleges that Johal traveled to Paris in 2013 and gave more than $3,000 to the Khalistan Liberation Force, which the Indian government recognizes as a terrorist organization. The government also claims Johal is a member of the group. Johal denies both the membership allegation and the funding claim.
Throughout his detention, Johal’s attorneys argued that he had met the conditions for bail yet remained locked up. Johal has said he was tortured in custody. The United Nations determined in 2022 that Johal’s detention was arbitrary, according to UPI.
“There have been so many setbacks and disappointments in the last nine years that I didn’t dare to believe it until I saw Jagta walking out of the prison gates with my own eyes,” said Gurpreet Singh Johal, Jagtar’s brother. “The last two weeks have been torture — knowing that Jagtar had been granted bail, but the authorities were refusing to let him out. I’ll sleep well tonight, knowing that he’s not behind bars.”