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{{Short description|Indian activist (born 1993)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1993}}
| birth_place = [[Delhi]]
| alma_mater = [[Delhi University]]
| occupation = [[Activist]], [[Radio personality]]
| known_for = [[Student activism]]
| notable_works = [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests]]
}}

'''Gulfisha Fatima''' (born 1993) is an Indian [[Student activism|student activist]] from Delhi, known for her involvement in protests against the [[Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019]] (CAA) and her advocacy for [[religious freedom]] and [[secularism]]. She gained significant attention for her role in peaceful demonstrations in [[Seelampur Assembly constituency|Selampur, Delhi]], which were part of a larger nationwide [[CAA Protest]], a law criticised for allegedly discriminating against [[Muslims in India]].

== Early life and education ==
Gulfisha Fatima was born into a Muslim family in Delhi. She went to pursue Urdu Honours from [[Kirori Mal College]], [[Delhi University]], and then completed her [[MBA]] from Institute of Management Education in [[Ghaziabad]]. She was working as a [[Radio personality|radio jockey]] before getting arrested in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web | date=2023-01-08 |title=Mere presence at meeting not crime, Gulfisha Fatima to HC in Delhi pogrom UAPA case |url=https://maktoobmedia.com/india/mere-presence-at-meeting-not-crime-gulfisha-fatima-to-hc-in-delhi-pogrom-uapa-case/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Maktoob media |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

== Arrest ==
Fatima was arrested on 9 April 2020, during the protests related to the [[2020 Delhi riots]], and has since been charged under multiple serious offences, including [[rioting]], [[conspiracy]], and violations of the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] (UAPA).<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-11-30 |title=Gulfisha, Khalid seeks bail on grounds of parity |url=https://sundayguardianlive.com/legally-speaking/gulfisha-khalid-seeks-bail-on-grounds-of-parity |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Sunday Guardian Live |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kakkar |first=Shruti |date=8 Jan 2025 |title='Ruthless' conspiracy: Delhi Police opposes bail to 2020 riots accused |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/ruthless-conspiracy-delhi-police-opposes-bail-to-2020-riots-accused-101736274506401.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

Her arrest has been characterised by many as politically motivated, aimed at suppressing [[dissent]] against the government led by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP). Despite being granted bail in some cases, she remains [[incarcerated]] due to ongoing charges under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act|UAPA]], which has drawn international scrutiny and calls for her release from human rights organisations - the [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=Delhi Riots: Gulfisha Fatima, Booked For Terrorism, Is Quiet, Studious And Has A Strong Sense Of Justice, Says Family |url=https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/delhi-riots-gulfisha-fatima-anti-caa-protests_in_5f3ac140c5b670ab17ae5a91 |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=[[HuffPost]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Delhi Riots: New Charges, Multiple Bail Rejections Keep Gulfisha Fatima Lodged in Jail for 3 Years |url=https://thewire.in/law/delhi-riots-new-charges-multiple-bail-rejections-keep-gulfisha-fatima-lodged-in-jail-for-3-years |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-02 |title=Gulfisha Fatima |url=https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/gulfisha-fatima |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Front Line Defenders |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news | date=2024-11-11 |title=2020 Delhi riots: SC refuses to entertain Gulfisha Fatima's bail plea, asks HC to hear case on Nov. 25 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/2020-delhi-riots-sc-refuses-to-entertain-gulfisha-fatimas-bail-plea-asks-hc-to-to-hear-case-on-nov-25/article68854943.ece |access-date=2025-01-01 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-30 |title=Gulfisha Fatima {{!}} USCIRF |url=https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/gulfisha-fatima |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=[[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Imprisonment without trial ==
Fatima spent [[Indefinite detention]] for nearly five years without any trial in a controversial conspiracy case, despite widespread criticism from human rights groups.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Noor |first=Aliza |date=2024-08-09 |title=A Family's Endless Wait For Their Gul — The Gulfisha Fatima Story |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/a-familys-endless-wait-for-their-gul-the-gulfisha-fatima-story |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Scroll Staff |date=2021-06-18 |title=Delhi violence: HC adjourns activist Gulfisha Fatima's plea for release, cites large number of cases |url=https://scroll.in/latest/997889/delhi-violence-hc-adjourns-activist-gulfisha-fatimas-plea-for-release-cites-large-number-of-cases |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref>

Her case is emblematic of broader concerns regarding the treatment of activists and [[religious minorities in India]], particularly in the context of the CAA protests and the subsequent riots in Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-11 |title=Northeast Delhi riots: SC declines to entertain bail plea of Gulfisha Fatima, directs high court to hear matter |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/northeast-delhi-riots-sc-gulfisha-fatima-bail-plea-9664403/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Waiting for Gul: The Story of Gulfisha Fatima |url=https://thewire.in/rights/waiting-for-gul-the-story-of-gulfisha-fatima |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fatima |first=Heena |date=2024-09-19 |title=Families of Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima call out VIP culture in bail. Want police reform |url=https://theprint.in/feature/around-town/families-of-umar-khalid-gulfisha-fatima-call-out-vip-culture-in-bail-want-police-reform/2274852/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Bail ==
The [[Supreme Court of India]] granted bail to Fatima along with [[Meeran Haider]], Shifa ur Rehman, Mohammad Saleem Khan & Shadab Ahmed on 3 January 2026.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhattar |first1=Ruchi |title=2020 Delhi riots case: SC distinguishes Umar Khalid & Sharjeel Imam's role from others to deny bail |url=https://theprint.in/judiciary/2020-delhi-riots-case-sc-distinguishes-umar-khalid-sharjeel-imams-role-from-others-to-deny-bail/2818827/ |access-date=5 January 2026 |work=[[ThePrint]] |date=5 January 2026}}</ref>

The court observed that prolonged incarceration without the commencement of trial warranted the grant of bail. Following the order, Fatima was released on 7 January 2026, after spending several years in custody.<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2026-01-07 |title=2020 Delhi riots case: Gulfisha Fatima walks out of Tihar jail |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-riots-case-accused-walk-out-of-tihar-jail/article70483714.ece |access-date=2026-01-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fatima, Gulfisha}}
[[Category:Indian activists]]
[[Category:1993 births]]
[[Category:People involved in the Citizenship Amendment Act protests]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Inmates of Tihar Jail]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of India]]

Gulfisha Fatima - Revision history

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