Gulfisha Fatima released after nearly six years

Gulfisha Fatima walked out of Tihar Jail after almost six years.

Transcript

00:00The gates of Tihar Jail open and a woman steps out.

00:03This is Gul Fisha Fatima walking out of custody after nearly six years in jail.

00:08An MBA graduate and student activist from Delhi,

00:11Gul Fisha Fatima was arrested in April 2020 in connection with the Northeast Delhi riots.

00:16She came into public view during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act

00:20where she allegedly mobilized women and students at sit-ins in Silampur and Jafarabad.

00:25After violence broke out in February 2020, leaving more than 50 people dead,

00:30police alleged a larger conspiracy behind the riot

00:32and booked her under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

00:36She has denied the charges.

00:38This week, the Supreme Court granted Gul Fisha Fatima bail,

00:41noting that she did not exercise independent command or control over protest sites,

00:46a key factor in its decision.

00:49Four other accused were also released after completing bail formalities,

00:52but the focus of the court's order was on individual roles.

00:56Two others named in the same case, Umar Khaled and Sharjeev Imam,

01:00were denied bail, with the court taking a different view of the allegations against them.

01:04For Gul Fisha Fatima, the night marks the end of nearly six years behind bars.

01:08The larger case and the question it raises continue.