Background
Mohd Zaid is a Popular Front of India (PFI) activist arrested under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). India’s BJP government banned the PFI in September 2022. The Hindu nationalist government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned PFI, its student wings, and other affiliates, alleging the group of unlawful “terror activities,” disturbing law and order, and posing a threat to the sovereignty of India. Hundreds of its members were arrested in a nationwide crackdown in September 2022. The arrests have been condemned by civil society, accusing the government of silencing the voices of Muslim activists and critics.
Zaid, an activist, based in Uttar Pradesh (UP), has been falsely accused of provoking Muslims against Hindus and engaging in “terror activities” targeting the Hindu community. The police further use Zaid association with the Muslim group Tablighi Jamaat of Markaz Nizamuddin and the Islamic seminary Nadwa as reasons to justify his arrest.
According to the police, he was involved in PFI events organized in Kerala and was close to top leaders. He was arrested in Ayodhya in October 2022. His father, Mohd Haneef, also accused the authorities of illegally detaining him in September for four days before the arrest.
Charges and Allegations
Unlawful Activities Prevention Act
Current Status
Not released yet.