Siddique Kappan, who spent 28 months in jail with out trial, was charged beneath anti-terror legal guidelines for reporting on a gang-rape case.
Indian journalist Siddique Kappan, who spent almost two and half years in jail with out trial, has walked out of jail, greater than a month after he was granted bail by a court docket within the northern metropolis of Prayagraj in a cash laundering case.
Kappan was initially charged beneath varied sections of the Indian penal code, earlier than being hit by terror and cash laundering costs. He had been granted bail within the terror case by the Supreme Courtroom in September 2022.
“I'm blissful to stroll out of jail after virtually 2.5 years,” the 43-year-old instructed Al Jazeera. “I'm hopeful to defend my half and show my innocence,”
Journalist rights watchdog, the Committee to Defend Journalists (CPJ), welcomed Kappan’s launch and demanded that every one costs be dropped in opposition to him.
I had solely gone to report. What's mistaken with that? I used to be solely carrying two pens and a notepad
Kappan was arrested in October 2020 within the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the place he had travelled to report on a high-profile gang-rape case. He and three others, together with his driver, have been accused of belonging to a Muslim organisation and ultimately charged with conspiracy to incite violence.
His driver, Mohammad Alam, was granted bail final month whereas the 2 others stay behind bars.
Kappan has maintained his innocence and says that he had solely travelled from his residence state of Kerala to do his duties as a journalist.
“I had solely gone to report. What's mistaken with that? I used to be solely carrying two pens and a notepad,” he stated in regards to the case of a younger Dalit lady gang-raped by upper-caste Hindu males in Hathras metropolis in Uttar Pradesh.
Kappan stated the years since his arrest have been robust for him and his household.
“My spouse and three youngsters struggled so much. But, I've to thank individuals for the help me and my household obtained.”
Geeta Seshu, who advocates for press freedom in India, instructed Al Jazeera that Kappan’s arrest beneath robust “anti-terror” legal guidelines “is an excessive illustration of the fragility of the liberty of journalists to work in India”.
“Whereas Kappan was picked up even earlier than he might do his story, different journalists are continuously within the crosshairs for his or her writings,” stated Seshu, founding father of the Free Speech Collective primarily based in Mumbai.
Imprisoned #journalists in #India as of February 2, 2022:
1) Aasif Sultan (since August 27, 2018)
2) Gautam Navlakha (since April 14, 2020)
3) Sajad Gul (since January 05, 2022)
4) Fahad Shah (since February 4, 2022)
5) Rupesh Kumar Singh (since July 17, 2022) #PressFreedom— CPJ Asia (@CPJAsia) February 2, 2023
India has seen a pointy decline in media freedoms for the reason that Hindu nationalist authorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi took workplace in 2014.
Crucial reporters typically discover themselves behind bars and hounded on social media by supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Celebration.
Based on the World Press Freedom Index launched by Reporters With out Borders final Might, India’s rating dropped to 150 from 142 amongst 180 nations.
“The web results of this intimidation and persecution, each seen and invisible, is the erosion of the liberty of journalists to analyze and report vital points, to remark and inform public opinion, and to query these in energy,” Seshu added.
Further reporting by Rifat Fareed from New Delhi
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