Why is Gulfisha Fatima Behind Bars for the last 18 months in a 'Free' Country?
Gulfisha Fatima, a voice fighting for our collective feminist citizenship, has been in jail since 8th April 2020. She found her political voice during the Anti CAA NPR NRC protests and courageously articulated her demand for the right to equal citizenship that the laws undermine. Far from being a 'terrorist' as falsely charged the Delhi Police, she and her community have faced the terror of hindutva forces and politicians for daring to assert their right to equal citizenship. Since her arrest, the state has tried every tactic available to delay her bail proceedings and keep her in jail unjustly. Every day Gul spends behind bars is a blow to our shared rights and freedoms.
Who is Gul? She is a young student from Seelampur, the first in her family to pursue higher education, who after completing her Masters in Urdu Language from Delhi University, decided to study management to support her family financially. She is an empowered Muslim woman who turned down a paid employment position so that she could be part of the citizenship protests and raise her voice for equality. She is an educator who set up English, Hindi and Urdu literacy classes at her sit-in protest site for women of all ages. She is an organizer who won the trust and admiration of all in her community and emerged as a powerful and fearless voice.
What kind of nation imprisons, instead of celebrating, its brightest young people? What kind of nation sends the advocates of freedom, equality, and justice to jail? What kind of nation goes to such lengths to instill fear of speaking out in the minds of all citizens? What kind of “free” nation needs to cage its women?
We call upon feminist, student and democratic groups and individuals across the country to come together and mobilize simultaneous protests and on-ground actions on the streets of as many towns and cities as possible, as well as online solidarity on 9th October, 2021 to Demand an End to Gulfisha’s Unlawful Imprisonment and assert our claim to every right of equal citizenship, promised to us in the constitution.
Along with Gulfisha, what has been jailed are our hopes for freedom, justice and equality. A fight for her release is a crucial step in the long struggle for a collective fearless feminist future. As we all know, Gul's isn't a case in isolation. We have been witnessing increased police brutality, state repression and the disproportionate impact of targetted hate and violence on minorities, in particular Muslims and other historically marginalized groups. Gul and others represent the face of youthful and powerful resistance against these injustices. A resistance which needs the widest solidarity from all sections of society.