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Professor Abdul Rahman Geelani (left in beard) with other accused in the Parliament attack case
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By
IOL South Asia Correspondent
NEW
DELHI, September 24 (IslamOnline) - More than 200 professors of Delhi
University and Jawaharlal Nehru University have written to the Chief
Justice of India seeking fair trial for Syed Abdur Rahman Geelani, a
Kashmiri Professor of Arabic at Delhi’s Zakir Hussain College.
They
said Geelani had been denied his rights under ordinary criminal law as
well as his constitutional protection, and even safeguards under the
Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
Geelani
was arrested with three others on December 14 last year under POTA for
alleged involvement in the attack on parliament a day earlier.
“We
fully realize the gravity of the charge against the four accused and
the implications of an attack on the prime institution of our
democracy.
“However,
we are equally concerned about the growing trend of human rights being
violated by the executive with impunity. Unfortunately, the
legislature encourages this trend by promulgating extraordinary laws
which undermine the rights enshrined in our Constitution,” the
teachers said.
The
teachers pointed out to a series of instances where the constitutional
and legal safeguards were not provided to Geelani. The teachers said
they were afraid “the principles of justice and fair play are
apparently being ignored.”
They
said they were “not only in defense of a well-loved and respected
teacher but also because the ideals and values on which our
country’s democracy is founded are being eroded by politics of
prejudice and hatred.”
Meanwhile,
in another statement this week, the All India Defense Committee for
Syed Abdur Rahman Geelani, led by famous sociologist Rajni Kothari
said Geelani had been a victim of prejudice and communal hostility
ever since he was arrested on December 14, 2001.
Geelani
was taken to a Delhi farm house and tortured. Even his wife and two
small children were whisked away and detained by the police. Despite
brutal torture Geelani refused to give a false confession.
Kothari
said even before the trials began, Geelani was subjected to trial by
media. Planted media reports made all kinds of wild allegations
quoting the “confession” Geelani had never made.
The
committee for Geelani’s legal defense comprises leading writers,
academics, journalists and public figures.
“The
trial of Abdur Rahman Geelani raises questions, which touch the very
future of Indian democracy. Our concern is with defending the right to
fair trial of a courageous man and of defending the values enshrined
in our Constitution,” the committee said.
Geelani
was attacked with a razor blade on August 17 by a co-prisoner in
Delhi’s Tihar jail. That incident causes worry to the committee
about Geelani’s safety in prison.
Surendra
Mohan, a member of the committee and one of the senior leaders of the
country’s socialist movement said, “The most important question
that troubles many concerned citizens is whether he is victimized for
voicing his opposition to the right-wing majoritarian attack on
secularism, and is being punished for lamenting the erosion of civil
and democratic space due to excesses committed by uniformed forces.”
