NEW DELHI — May 13, 2025

The arrest of Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a prominent Muslim academic at Ashoka University, has ignited a firestorm across India and beyond, with critics denouncing the move as politically motivated and emblematic of rising intolerance against dissent—particularly among India’s Muslim minority.

Mahmudabad, 42, was detained in New Delhi on Sunday under criminal charges that include incitement of communal disharmony, subversive activity, and insulting religious sentiments. The charges stem from a Facebook post dated May 8, in which the professor praised India’s military operations against Pakistan but called out domestic injustices against Indian Muslims.

The Post and Its Context

In the post, Mahmudabad responded to a military press conference led by Colonel Sofiya Qureishi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, commending their professionalism. He used the moment to highlight contradictions in Indian society, noting that while Muslims in uniform are publicly celebrated, common Muslims face lynchings, demolitions, and discrimination under current government policies.

“The press conference was just a fleeting glimpse – an illusion and allusion perhaps – to an India that defied the logic on which Pakistan was built,” he wrote, arguing that the “idea of India united in its diversity is not completely dead.”

The post also criticized Pakistan’s military for backing non-state militants, stating it has long destabilized the region while presenting itself as a victim on the international stage.

Arrest and Political Fallout

Mahmudabad’s arrest followed a complaint filed by a youth leader from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The case quickly escalated, with the Haryana Women’s Commission accusing him of disparaging women officers in the armed forces—allegations Mahmudabad firmly denies as baseless and misrepresentative.

“There is nothing remotely misogynistic about my comments that could be construed as anti-women,” he responded.

His arrest came amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, following deadly cross-border hostilities earlier this month. Both sides reported civilian casualties, and the fighting ended only after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

Reactions and Support

Rights groups, academics, and civil society leaders have condemned the arrest. Aakar Patel, chair of Amnesty International India, said bluntly:

“Mahmudabad is in jail not because of what he wrote but because he’s Muslim.”

A faculty statement from Ashoka University expressed concern over his detention, calling the charges “groundless and untenable.” However, the university administration distanced itself from his personal views.

Over 1,000 academics, including renowned historians Romila Thapar and Ramachandra Guha, signed a letter defending Mahmudabad’s right to free expression. The Print, a major Indian outlet, editorialized the arrest as a “shameful insult to our millennia-old democratic tradition.”

Prominent opposition politician Asaduddin Owaisi denounced the move as “utterly condemnable,” arguing that the BJP appears intolerant of even measured criticism.

“A mere complaint by a BJP worker was enough for the police to swing into action,” he said.

Meanwhile, popular satirist Ramesh Srivats remarked wryly: “Maybe these days, even long sentences can lead to long sentences.”

A Deeper Trend?

Mahmudabad’s arrest is being seen as part of a broader pattern of criminalizing dissent, particularly from Muslim voices. Observers note that his criticism was not only balanced—acknowledging India’s military achievements while calling for justice—but also patriotic, advocating for an inclusive and pluralistic India.

Mahmudabad, a Cambridge-educated political scientist, has served as a national spokesperson for the Samajwadi Party and hails from a family with deep political roots. His grandfather was a prominent figure in the All India Muslim League prior to Partition.

As protests grow and legal proceedings unfold, the case is expected to test the limits of academic freedom and free speech in India’s democracy.