Dec 23, 2020: Faisal Khan was released on bail and is safely home with his family . We will continue to raise our voices until all the charges against him are dropped.
A Khudai Kidmatgar (Servant of god) in Today’s India, Videos in english and Hindu by Anand patwardhan
Khudai Khidmatgars in Today’s India, a video by Anand Patwardhan
Global Press conference on Dec 10th, organized by Hindus for Human Rights, Indian American Muslim Council and Amnesty International-USA.
PRESS CONFERENCE, PRESS COVERAGE, AND OPEDS:
The Indian Express, Why Faisal Khan, held for offering namaz in a temple, is convinced hate will never win in India, Jan 17, 2021
The Times of India, Activist Faisal Khan released from jail, 52 days after he was held for offering namaz on temple premises in Mathura, Dec 25, 2020
News Tracklive, Faisal Khan who offered Namaz in temple receives bail, Dec 24, 2020
Daiji World, Allahabad HC grants bail to man who offered namaaz in temple, Dec 21, 2020
Hindustan Times, Uttar Pradesh: Man held for offering namaz gets bail, Dec 21, 2020
Live Law, Activist Faisal Khan, arrested for offering namaz at Mathura Temple granted bail by Allahabad High Court, Dec 20, 2020
The Wire, Allahabad HC Grants Bail to Faisal Khan in 'Namaz at Temple' Case, Dec 19, 2020
Indica News, Case against Faisal Khan is false, says his lawyer Colin Gonsalves, Dec 19, 2020
Huffington Post, Hindu Activists Denounce India’s Jailing Of Muslim Who Prayed At Hindu Temple, Dec 16, 2020
American Kahani, Free My Friend Faisal Khan From Jail and Free My Hindu Faith From Hindutva, Oped by Sunita Viswanath, Dec 15, 2020
Religion News Service, Why Indian activist Faisal Khan should matter to all Americans, Oped by Timothy Dobe, Dec 11, 2020
The Wire, Why I Think All Hindus Should Fight Against Faisal Khan's Arrest, Oped by Sunita Viswanath, Dec 8, 2020
Indian Express, Why is Faisal Khan, a human rights activist, in prison for an act of peace?, Oped by Anand Patwardhan, Dec 5, 2020
Scroll.In, The Heroism of Khudai Khidmatgars in today’s India, Oped by Anand Patwardhan, Dec 5, 2020
Hindustan Times, In memory of Frontier Gandhi, a plea for justice for Faisal Khan, Oped by Rajmohan Gandhi, Nov 29. 2020
Who is Faisal Khan?
Faisal Khan is a Gandhian activist. He is the National Convener of Khudai Kidmatgar (Servants of God) India. Khudai Kidmatgar is an organization and movement started by nonviolent peace activist and freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Badshah Khan and Frontier Gandhi. Faisal revived this movement for peace and interfaith harmony in 2011. He has been associated with the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) for the past 15 years, working for communal harmony and people’s empowerment. He is an executive committee member of Socialist Party (India). He has helped establish Sabka Ghar (The People’s House) in Delhi and Kanyakumari, dedicated to all those killed in the name of Religion, Caste, Gender, Race and Boundaries. Faisal is a member of HfHR’s Advisory Board.
Two HfHR Advisory Board Members: Rajmohan Gandhi and Faisal Khan
Why was Faisal Khan arrested?
Video Statement by Varanasi-based interfaith peace activist Father Anand, about Faisal Khan’s arrest.
Faisal Khan and three other members of Khudai Kidmatgar conducted a 5-day yatra (journey) in Brij, a part of Uttar Pradesh which is a place of pilgrimage for Krishna devotees. They visited many houses of worship, and the purpose of the yatra was to spread the Gandhian message of sarva dharma sambhav (the possibility of communal harmony and religious tolerance). On the final day of the yatra, Oct 30, the Khudai Kidmatgar group visited the Nand Baba Temple, a prominent temple in the region. There are photos and videos showing a wonderful day spent together with the priest and others, exchanging and discussing scripture, and enjoying each others company. The priest even served Faisal prasad (food blessed by God).
When it was time for the midday namaz (Muslim prayer), Faisal was going to pray outside, but the priest invited him to pray right there in the temple. Faisal and one of his associates, Chand Mohammed, prayed in the temple compound. Photos were taken throughout the 5-day yatra, and sent to Khudai Kidmatgar supporters. It was very natural for the group to share photos of this moment of interfaith harmony, with two Muslim men praying in a Hindu temple at the invitation of the priest.
Unfortunately four days later, Faisal Khan was arrested in Delhi and jailed in Mathura, UP. The same priest that had invited Faisal to pray had filed the FIR (police complaint). The charges against Faisal are two-fold: 1) conducting Muslim prayers in a Hindu temple without permission and with intent to create community disharmony; and 2) creating Khudai Kidmatgar as a pretext for raising funds from foreign sources for nefarious activities.
When Faisal Khan was arrested, he was found to be Covid positive, and spent two weeks in a hospital in police custody. His pro-bono lawyers applied for bail twice, and bail was rejected both times. His lawyers will now be take the case to the High Court in Allahabad.
While Faisal has been in prison, the police have been looking for his three associates, particularly Chand Mohammed. Police from Mathura traveled to Bihar where Chand's family lives. His parents and brother were beaten up badly. His brother was arrested and brought to Mathura where he was illegally detained without any charges against him. Luckily he was released thanks to the intervention of lawyer friends. Chand's family is terrified.
What can you do?
ADD YOUR VOICE by signing this PETITION calling for Faisal’s immediate release.
RECORD A VIDEO STATEMENT OF SUPPORT and email it to us at info@hindusforhumanrights.org and/or post on your social media accounts with the hashtag #FREEFAISALKHAN
TAKE A PHOTO OF YOURSELF with a sign that says #FREEFAISALKHAN and email it to us at info@hindusforhumanrights.org and/or post on your social media accounts with the hashtag
More About Faisal Bhai
From the news:
Nov 3rd Press conference:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=276456473728537&ref=watch_permalink
(Sunita and Deepak of HfHR speak at 28:50 and 47:03 respectively)
Statement Issued by HfHR, Nov 1. 2020:
https://www.hindusforhumanrights.org/en/blog/oqws4c5cz5v8qzsb841w6jebxcon3j
Statement Issued by Hindu Voices for Peace, India, Nov 14, 2020:
https://www.hindusforhumanrights.org/en/blog/c3x54emkotv88180xloway8ompm7e4
HfHR Blog With Interview with Faisal Khan, July 2020
https://www.hindusforhumanrights.org/en/blog/present-day-non-violent-and-non-armed-resistance-to-oppression?rq=frontier%20gandhi
HfHR Members, Including Faisal Khan, Detained on Jan 30, 2020
Faisal Khan Speaking on Jan 30th 2020, Mahatma Gandhi’s Death Anniversary, when he and other peace activists were detained by police. (with subtitles)
HfHR’s Faisal Khan, Giri and Akriti (and many others) were detained by the police on Jan 30, 2020, Gandhi’s 72nd Death Anniversary. They were prevented from embarking on an “All India Yatra” to defend the Indian constitution.