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{{Short description|Indian journalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sidheeq Kappan
| image = Sidheeq Kappan, TTT 2018.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Kappan in 2018
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{circa|1980}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mandhani |first1=Apoorva |title=After 43 days in UP jail, Kerala journalist finally gets to talk to lawyer for 5 mins on phone |url=https://theprint.in/india/after-49-days-in-up-jail-kerala-journalist-finally-gets-to-talk-to-lawyer-for-5-mins-on-phone/546781/ |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=ThePrint |date=18 November 2020}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| other_names = Siddique Kappan
| occupation = Journalist
| years_active =
| known_for = Reporting on caste violence; government persecution of journalists
| notable_works =
| spouse(s) = Raihanath Kappan<ref>{{cite news |title=Siddique Kappan's incarceration: His wife and children feel helpless, yet keep their hopes alive |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/nov/16/siddique-kappans-incarceration-his-wife-and-children-feel-helpless-yet-keep-their-hopes-alive-2384302.html |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
| children = 3<ref>{{cite news |title=Preview: India's Shackled Press |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/preview-india-s-shackled-press/6548367.html |access-date=24 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
}}

'''Sidheeq Kappan''' is an Indian journalist from [[Kerala]] who had been imprisoned in October 2020 after being charged under the [[Unlawful Activities Prevention Act]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala journo Siddique Kappan charged under UAPA, IT Act by UP special task force |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kerala-journo-siddique-kappan-charged-under-uapa-it-act-special-task-force-146475 |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=The News Minute |date=3 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref> He was arrested while on his way to [[Hathras]] to report on the [[2020 Hathras gang rape and murder|story of the 19-year-old Dalit woman]] who died after being allegedly [[gang-rape]]d by four men.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sadhu |first1=Anuran |title=Journalist Siddique Kappan, Three Others Discharged Of Breach Of Peace Case By UP Court |url=https://thelogicalindian.com/trending/journalist-siddique-kappan-and-three-others-discharged-of-breach-of-peace-case-by-up-court-28950 |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=thelogicalindian.com |date=16 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

Before his imprisonment, Kappan was a regular contributor to the news portal ''Azhimukham''.

==Arrest and detention==
On 5 October 2020, Kappan, along with three others, were traveling to Hathras to report on the [[2020 Hathras gang rape and murder]]. His car was stopped at a toll plaza in Mathura and all four were arrested by the [[Uttar Pradesh Police]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mandhani |first1=Apoorva |title=Journalist Siddique Kappan meets lawyer 46 days after arrest while en route to Hathras |url=https://theprint.in/india/journalist-siddique-kappan-meets-lawyer-46-days-after-arrest-while-enroute-to-hathras/549352/ |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=ThePrint |date=21 November 2020}}</ref> The [[First Information Report]] submitted against him in Mathura court charged him with Section 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc.) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the [[Indian Penal Code]] and the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] (UAPA) and the [[Information Technology Act]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala journo Siddique Kappan charged under UAPA, IT Act by UP special task force |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kerala-journo-siddique-kappan-charged-under-uapa-it-act-special-task-force-146475 |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=The News Minute |date=3 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hazari |first1=Usama |title=Siddique Kappan completes one year in jail, but for what? |url=https://www.siasat.com/siddique-kappan-completes-one-year-in-jail-but-for-what-2202424/ |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=The Siasat Daily |date=5 October 2021}}</ref>

In February 2021, Kappan received five days' interim bail to visit his ailing mother, Khadeeja Kutty.<ref>{{cite news |title=Journalist Siddique Kappan gets 5 days bail to Visit his ailing mother in Kerala |url=https://gaurilankeshnews.com/journalist-siddique-kappan-gets-5-days-bail-to-visit-his-ailing-mother-in-kerala/ |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=Gauri Lankesh News |date=15 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The bail allowed only his close family to meet him.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala journo Siddique Kappan charged under UAPA, IT Act by UP special task force |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kerala-journo-siddique-kappan-charged-under-uapa-it-act-special-task-force-146475 |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=The News Minute |date=3 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref> His mother later died in June 2021, after succumbing to illnesses.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 June 2021 |first1=P. S. |last=Gopikrishnan Unnithan |title=Jailed Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan's mother passes away at 90 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kerala-journalist-siddique-kappan-mother-passes-away-at-90-1816674-2021-06-18 |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2021, Kappan tested positive for [[COVID-19]]. He was shifted to a hospital within the prison premises in Mathura.<ref>{{cite news |title=By Hastily Shifting Siddique Kappan From AIIMS to Mathura Jail, UP Defies Supreme Court |url=https://thewire.in/law/by-hastily-shifting-siddique-kappan-from-aiims-to-mathura-jail-up-defies-supreme-court |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=The Wire}}</ref> When his health worsened, he was moved to K.M Medical College in Mathura, where the attending doctors declared him "COVID negative".<ref>{{cite news |first1=Anuja |last=Jaiswal |title=Siddique Kappan moved back to UP jail despite Covid positive report Agra News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/kappan-moved-back-to-up-jail-despite-covid-positive-report/articleshow/82516646.cms |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mandhani |first1=Apoorva |title=Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan tests positive for Covid, admitted to hospital |url=https://theprint.in/india/kerala-journalist-siddique-kappan-tests-positive-for-covid-admitted-to-hospital/643756/ |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=ThePrint |date=21 April 2021}}</ref> He was then returned to Mathura jail. After the intervention of the Supreme Court, he was relocated to the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]] for further treatment.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Aneesha |last1=Mathur |title=SC orders Covid positive journalist Siddique Kappan be shifted to Delhi for treatment |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/covid-positive-siddique-kappan-shifted-to-delhi-for-treatment-supreme-court-order-1795845-2021-04-28 |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=India Today |language=en}}</ref> In May 2021, he tested positive for COVID-19 again.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jaiswal |first1=Anuja |title=Journo Siddique Kappan tests Covid-19 positive for 2nd time, discharged from AIIMS & brought back to Mathura jail |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/journo-siddique-kappan-tests-covid-19-positive-for-2nd-time-discharged-from-aiims-brought-back-to-mathura-jail/articleshow/82488010.cms |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

Kappan was granted bail on 9 September 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Journalist S Kappan, In UP Jail Since 2020, Granted Bail By Supreme Court |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kerala-journalist-siddique-kappan-will-get-bail-says-supreme-court-he-was-arrested-by-up-police-in-2020-3329727 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> but would remain in jail due to a [[Enforcement Directorate]] case.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Despite SC bail, Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan to remain in jail as ED case pending |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/despite-sc-bail-kerala-journalist-siddique-kappan-to-continue-to-remain-in-jail-article-94173496 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=TimesNow |language=en}}</ref>

On 23 December 2022, Kappan got bail from the [[Allahabad High Court]] in the case filed by ED under PMLA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/breaking-allahabad-high-court-grants-bail-to-siddique-kappan-in-pmla-case|title=BREAKING: Allahabad High Court grants bail to Siddique Kappan in PMLA case|first=Ratna|last=Singh|date= December 23, 2022|accessdate=23 December 2022|website=barandbench.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/allahabad-high-court-grants-bail-to-journalist-siddique-kappan-in-pmla-case/article66297897.ece|title=Allahabad High Court grants bail to journalist Siddique Kappan in PMLA case|website=thehindu.com|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|date=December 23, 2022|accessdate=23 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kerala-journalist-siddique-kappan-in-up-jail-for-2-years-gets-bail-3632951|title=Kerala Journalist Siddique Kappan Gets Bail After 2 Years In UP Jail|website=ndtv.com|date=December 23, 2022|accessdate=23 December 2022}}</ref>

After getting out of jail, he said that the police tortured him during the detention to get [[forced confession]]s out of him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rizvi |first1=Asad |title=Siddique Kappan Says Police 'Tortured' Him to Admit Links to Terrorist Groups |url=https://thewire.in/rights/siddique-kappan-police-tortured-freedom |access-date=2023-02-04 |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=2023-02-04}}</ref>

==Protests==
Several protests were conducted in India, demanding the release of Kappan from prison.<ref>{{cite news |title=One year of Siddique Kappan's arrest: Journalists protest in Delhi |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/kerala-up-hathras-1.6063857 |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=English.Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The terrible case of Siddiqui Kappan illustrated the targeting of journalists |url=https://enewsroom.in/journalists-siddiqui-kappan-press-freedom-uapa/ |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=eNewsroom India |date=6 October 2021}}</ref> International press organizations have also expressed concern over the jailing of Kappan.<ref>{{cite news |title=International press org seeks immediate release of journalist Siddique Kappan |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/international-press-org-seeks-immediate-release-journalist-siddique-kappan-152375 |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=The News Minute |date=15 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Siddique Kappan |url=https://cpj.org/data/people/siddique-kappan/ |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=Committee to Protect Journalists}}</ref>

==Release==
In February 2023, Kappan was released from prison after more than two years following his arrest. In December 2022, the Allahabad High Court granted him bail. However, it took over a month to secure his release due to procedural delays. After walking out of the prison, Kappan stated that he would continue to fight the charges against him.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-02 |title=Siddique Kappan: Indian journalist released from jail after two years |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64494426 |access-date=2023-02-02}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kappan, Sidheeq}}
[[Category:Imprisoned journalists]]
[[Category:Indian journalists]]
[[Category:1980s births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Sidheeq Kappan - Revision history

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