Gulfisha Fatima, a Delhi University graduate and student activist imprisoned for five years under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for her alleged role in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case, has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Delhi High Court’s September 2, 2025, decision denying her bail, according to Live Law.
Gulfisha Fatima, a student activist from Delhi, continues to be held in custody more than five years after her arrest in connection with the 2020 anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests and the subsequent communal violence in northeast Delhi. Charged under stringent sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Fatima faces allegations ranging from rioting and conspiracy to promoting enmity and terrorism.
While she was granted bail in one protest-related case, Fatima remains incarcerated due to additional charges under UAPA that accuse her of playing a key role in an alleged larger conspiracy behind the Delhi riots. Her continued detention without trial has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights advocates, who argue that the case exemplifies a broader crackdown on dissent. International human rights bodies, including United Nations experts, have called for her release and raised concerns about the misuse of anti-terror laws against peaceful protestors.
In September earlier this month, the Delhi High Court rejected Fatima’s bail plea, asserting that violence cannot be cloaked in the guise of free speech. The court’s decision has prompted her legal team to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court, with the case now seen as a potential bellwether for the future of protest rights and civil liberties in India.
The prosecution’s case rests heavily on witness testimonies, WhatsApp group activity, and Fatima’s alleged organisational role in the protests. However, critics contend that the evidence is weak and suggest that legitimate acts of protest have been unfairly criminalised. The Supreme Court’s verdict could have far-reaching implications for how India balances national security with democratic freedoms.
