USCIRF calls Sharjeel Imam religious freedom prisoner, backlash
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) shared an X post describing Sharjeel Imam as “a prisoner detained for his religious freedom advocacy.”
Its website (click here to view) describes Imam’s charges as “Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Hate Speech Illicit Financing Murder & Attempted Murder Public Disorder Terrorism Treason & Sedition.“
It classifies his detention as persecution linked to religious freedom advocacy, viewing his anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) activism as peaceful protest against legislation it considers discriminatory.
Sharjeel Imam is a Muslim man detained in India for his religious freedom advocacy.
— USCIRF (@USCIRF) November 13, 2026
Read his profile: https://t.co/Cj44GwlIj0 pic.twitter.com/vyRTmG70Wf
He is terrorist, let him rot in jail: Comments scream
The X post has garnered anger and condemnation, with the comments section filled with dismissive reactions. Many appear to disregard the context of Sharjeel’s arrest and allegations against him, clearly unaware of the distinction between a criminal case and a religious-freedom assessment.
One X user who goes by the name Farhan says, “There’s a literal fucking video of that bastard saying he wants to cut my country into pieces ! And you guys have the audacity to tell it’s religion freedom ?? My foot. Focus on real matters instead of propagandist activism.”
Another posted, “By religious freedom you mean –
- instigate Indians against India to cutoff chicken neck corridor – an important strategic chokepoint?
- call for communal violence?
- threaten integrity of India?
Btw, muslims will be calling for same in USA in next 10-15 years. Beware :)”
Another asked if the United States are supporting Muslim radicals and shared an old video of Sharjeel during the 2020 anti-CAA protest. “Is the US supporting radicals? Isn’t this hypocrisy? How can someone who threatens to divide a nation with the help of radical groups receive such support?”
Is the US supporting radicals? Isn't this hypocrisy? How can someone who threatens to divide a nation with the help of radical groups receive such support? pic.twitter.com/gAl6yrEiL3
— GFN (@GFNIND) November 13, 2026
Sharing the same video, another X user wrote a detail post linking Imam with former terrorists Osama Bin Laden and Hafiz Saeed. “Osama bin Laden was a Muslim man responsible for 9/11 and was hiding in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Hamas are Muslims responsible for killing innocent Israelis. Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar are Muslims and terrorists responsible for 26/11 and many terrorist attacks in India. Religious freedom does not mean ignoring jihadist incitement, safe havens in Pakistan, or the body count of groups like Hamas, LeT, and JeM. Sharjeel Imam is Islamist supremacists, wasn’t locked up for “advocating” against the CAA. He wanted to cut off Northeast India. That is not peaceful protest. That is a direct call to sever national territory.”
Another X user chanted Jai Shri Ram before cursing the young man to rot in jail for eternity.
Who is Sharjeel Imam
Sharjeel Imam, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) PhD student, is incarcerated in the 2020 Delhi riots case. The Delhi Police alleges that he, and fellow student, Umar Khalid, for allegedly orchestrating the riots, giving calls for violence, that led to over 40 dead and hundreds displaced.
However, ever since they were jailed, the trial has not begun. He has applied for bail numerous number of times at every court, leading to the Supreme Court of India, only to be rejected. Thus, Sharjeel Imam has spent almost six years of his life in Tihar Jail and continues till today.
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This content is published by The Siasat Daily and has not been created or edited by Hello Headlines. View original
