“Faith in God and the love of my people is enough for me” Sharjeel Imaam
More than five years into his incarceration under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Sharjeel Imam, a student of history, political thinker, and one of the earliest voices of the anti-CAA protests has released a deeply intellectual and politically pointed letter from Tihar Jail. Titled “On Islamic Modernism, Jinnah, Democracy, and the Systemic Exclusion of Muslims in India”, the letter was published by The Polis Project on June 30, 2025.
Written in Imam’s academic tone, the letter moves far beyond a personal update. It is a sweeping political meditation on what he sees as the historic and contemporary marginalisation of Indian Muslims, the relevance of Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s thought, and the urgency for a Muslim political reawakening rooted in faith, critical knowledge, and constitutional awareness.
A Letter Shaped by Books and Bars
Imam begins by situating himself as both a political prisoner and a student of history. Far from defeat, he speaks of his time in jail as intellectually productive writing, debating, and reading extensively. He describes an informal community of learning inside prison, where inmates from various states, religions, and ideologies engage in political dialogue and literary exchange.
“I am a pessimist because of my intelligence and an optimist because of my faith.” Imaam writes
“For some the two might be the same, but for me and people like me raised in the Islamic faith, “will” is meaningless without “faith” in God and His plans for me. There is the one grand “Will” of God, and the smaller “wills” cannot make sense or be optimistic without having faith in that “Will”, something that one can never fathom and only have faith in.” Imaam adds in the letter published by The Project Polis.
The quote echoes the larger structure of the letter: an intertwining of Islamic thought, political realism, and literary-cultural reflection. Imam references not only Islamic modernists like Jamal al-Din Afghani and Muhammad Abduh, but also thinkers, historians, and Urdu poets like Faiz, Hasrat Mohani, and Hafiz Shirazi.
Shaheen Bagh Movement
‘For a Muslim in this country, justice is utopian’: Aasif Mujtaba
Sharjeel Imam and Aasif Mujtaba were two main organisers of the anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh, a movement that reshaped national discourse in 2019–20. In his letter, Sharjeel Imaam emphasizes how the movement was subsequently represented in both media and mainstream activist spaces.
Imaam has raised concerns over what they describe as a sidelining of key activists of Shaheen Bagh Protest like Aasif Mujtaba, Afreen Fatima and others, by sections of “progressive” media and opinion makers.
“The way a section of “progressive” media and opinionmakers (both Muslim and non-Muslim) have sought to silence me and erase our tireless and decisive contributions to Shaheen Bagh from day zero to day 18—I mean books have been written about Shaheen Bagh without even mentioning me, Asif Mujtaba, Afreen Fatima, or others—just goes to show that this section is either disingenuous or intellectually bankrupt. But thankfully, in this day and age, facts cannot be suppressed forever.” Imaam writes.
Clarifying that the intention was not to complain but to highlight a concerning pattern, Sharjeel Imaam added, “Faith in God and the love of my people is enough for me.”
Prison as Political Pedagogy
Though physically confined, Imam writes of prison as a place of rigorous intellectual practice. He describes reading everything from Islamic jurisprudence and modern philosophy to the Urdu classics and Indian constitutional law.
“I have spent five years in Jail now. I would reiterate that these have been the most productive years of my life, not only because I got to read a lot— hundreds of books—but also because I have met a lot of political prisoners, have lived with people from Assam for six months, and have been living with people from Delhi and Haryana for over four years. All this has been a learning experience.” Imaam writes
The emotional weight of incarceration is punctuated by poetry, Hasrat Mohani’s verses on political exile, Hafiz’s lament on solitude, and Faiz’s eternal hope. These lines become both a record of suffering and a refusal to despair.
What makes Imam’s letter politically significant is not its volume, but its clarity. There are no slogans. No calls to the street. He offers no illusions of easy justice. But, he insists, the work of intellectual and spiritual renewal must begin in earnest within prisons, homes, libraries, and hearts.Sharjeel Imam’s letter is not a diary entry. It is a political document. Written from confinement
Political Stance of Sharjeel Imaam
“There might be attempts to provoke you, but it is crucial not to react with violence. Our objective is to isolate those who attempt to incite violence. We will refrain from using physical force and, instead, involve law enforcement while maintaining a peaceful approach.” – Sharjeel Imam
Rooted in the quiet simplicity of Bihar’s landscape, Sharjeel Imam’s early life gave little hint of the political path he would eventually take. Initially pursuing a career in technology, Imam began his higher education at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. But the world of engineering soon gave way to a deeper engagement with politics and identity.
In 2013, he enrolled at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), drawn by its reputation for progressive politics. Yet, his experience on campus told a different story. Imam became increasingly critical of what he termed the “Islamophobia of the Left,” particularly in the wake of the disappearance of fellow student Najeeb Ahmad. Disillusioned by the perceived inaction and indifference of leftist student groups, he severed ties with the All India Students Association (AISA) in 2016.
As he distanced himself from established political platforms, Imam’s voice grew louder and more distinct. What began as quiet discontent evolved into outspoken dissent, marking his transition from a frustrated student to a controversial political figure in the national conversation.
The CAA, NRC Proest, the Turning Point for Imaam
The nationwide outcry against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019-2020 propelled many voices to the forefront, and among them was Sharjeel Imam, whose speeches resonated sharply at the epicenter of protest Shaheen Bagh. Articulating concerns about what he viewed as discriminatory policies, Imam became a visible figure in the movement, urging peaceful resistance and voicing the anxieties of India’s Muslim community.
His speeches, marked by passionate critique and a call for nonviolent protest, struck a chord with many. But on January 28, 2020, his activism took a dramatic turn. Arrested in connection with his remarks during the anti-CAA demonstrations, Imam was charged under serious sections of Indian law, including sedition, conspiracy, and terrorism-related offenses.
His arrest sparked national debate, with some viewing it as a crackdown on dissent and others framing it as a necessary step for national security. Imam’s case has since become emblematic of a larger, ongoing struggle—one that pits freedom of expression against the boundaries of state authority.
Sharjeel Imam’s story, still unfolding, continues to reflect the tensions at the heart of India’s democratic framework. As legal proceedings move forward, his journey remains a potent symbol of the broader contest between civil liberties and institutional power in the country’s evolving political landscape.
Arguments in the Case
On January 25, 2020, a series of police reports marked the beginning of a mounting legal battle for Sharjeel Imam, a prominent voice during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests. Seven FIRs were filed against him across multiple states. The first five accused him of violating 22 legal provisions, most notably the colonial-era sedition law under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code. Three of the reports included charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Subsequent reports deepened the legal quagmire. On March 6, 2020, an additional case charged Imam with conspiracy in connection to the Delhi riots that erupted in February that year, adding 35 more offenses. A December 15, 2019, FIR also linked him to violent incidents at Jamia Millia Islamia University and accused him of serious crimes including attempted murder (Section 307 IPC) and rioting with deadly weapons.
At the heart of these allegations is a speech Imam delivered during the protests, in which he called for protestors to “cut off Assam from India.” This phrase quickly became the focal point of a nationwide controversy. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra publicly labeled Imam’s statement as an incitement to “open jihad,” and national media began portraying him as a dangerous radical.
Imam, however, offered a clarification. Just before his arrest on January 28, 2020, Reuters released a statement from him explaining that his intention was to call for a non-violent chakka jam—a blockade of roads and railway lines—as a form of civil disobedience to draw attention to the CAA. He accused the BJP of distorting his words to vilify him.
During legal proceedings, Imam’s counsel, senior advocate Tanveer Ahmad Mir, argued that calls for road blockades do not equate to secessionist intent. He highlighted the dire conditions of Muslim detainees in Assam’s detention camps, suggesting that Imam’s comments stemmed from deep concern over systemic injustices.
Legal experts and activists have also pointed to precedent. In 2008, during the Amarnath land agitation, Hindutva-aligned groups blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway for days without being branded secessionists. Many argue that Imam’s call for a blockade falls within the same tradition of protest, long recognized in Indian political life.
Despite this context, political rhetoric against Imam escalated rapidly. In the lead-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called on voters to “teach Shaheen Bagh a lesson,” a remark seen by many as a direct attack on the protest and its visible figures. Imam was soon labeled a terrorist by authorities and described in court as the alleged “mastermind” of the Shaheen Bagh protests—an assertion that continues to spark heated debate.
As his trial continues, Sharjeel Imam’s case has come to symbolize the fragile boundary between dissent and criminalization in contemporary India, raising urgent questions about free speech, protest rights, and the selective application of the law.
Legal Challenges
“Sharjeel is not the one at the test, but the bench and us”– Adv. Tanveer Ahmad Mir
Sharjeel Imam’s arrest in January 2020 followed a wave of criminal complaints filed by police in five Indian states—Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur—amid the nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Currently, his cases are being heard in various courts across Delhi.
Among the most serious charges come from Assam, where police invoked multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). These include Section 13(1), which pertains to advocating or inciting unlawful activity; Section 15(1)(a)(iii), which defines a “terrorist act” as one that disrupts essential supplies or services; and Section 18, related to conspiracy.
Sharjeel Imaam is a reminder that even behind prison walls, political thought survives. And sometimes, it sharpens.
