New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has written a personal letter to jailed activist and former Jawaharlal Nehru University student Umar Khalid, a gesture that has been making headlines. The letter, shared by Khalid’s partner, reflects empathy and concern as Khalid nears five years in prison in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case. Mamdani’s outreach has again brought focus to Khalid’s prolonged incarceration and the international attention surrounding it.
Mamdani’s Letter to Activist Umar
In the letter, Mamdani recalled Khalid’s thoughts on bitterness and the need to resist it, while also mentioning his meeting with Khalid’s parents. Umar was arrested in September 2020 under the UAPA and has been lodged in Tihar Jail since. He was briefly granted bail in December to attend his sister’s wedding before returning to custody, keeping focus on his long legal battle.
