Today: 1 June 2025
7 November 2023
3 mins read

UK Foreign Office Faces Pressure to Act on British Sikh’s Detention in India

The lawyers’ letter stated that in the six years Johal has been in jail, no credible evidence has been forthcoming, and called on Ahmad to retract his “unsustainable” comments about due process…reports Asian Lite News

Top lawyers have asked UK Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad to retract his recent comments saying that British Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal would receive “due process” in India where he has been detained since 2017 over terror charges.

In a debate about Johal’s case in the House of Lords in September, Ahmad said the UK would not call for the release of an individual or interfere in another country’s legal process “where a due process is being followed”.

Ken MacDonald, Elish Angiolini and Jim Wallace, who have held senior public roles, expressed fears that Johal will not receive ‘due process’ in India amid claims of torture and arbitrary detention, The Guardian reported.

In a letter to Ahmad, coinciding with the sixth anniversary of Johal’s detention, the lawyers said that “there can be no due process where proceedings have been tainted by torture”, or where charges are politically motivated and punish freedom of expression.

Dumbarton-based Johal was in Punjab for his wedding when he was arrested in Jalandhar on November 4, 2017, over his alleged role in killings by the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a banned terrorist organisation.

According to his family, the 36-year-old has been tortured, including through electric shocks, before being made to sign a blank confession document — allegations that have been denied by the Indian authorities.

He is currently being held at the Tihar Jail and faces a possible death penalty over 10 accusations of murder and conspiracy to murder.

The lawyers’ letter stated that in the six years Johal has been in jail, no credible evidence has been forthcoming, and called on Ahmad to retract his “unsustainable” comments about due process.

Cutting across party lines, a group of more than 70 MPs had called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to seek “immediate release” of Johal, as he travelled to New Delhi to attend the G20 leaders’ summit in September.

Responding to Scottish National Party MP Martin Docherty-Hughes, Lord Ahmed said that with Johal’s trial underway in India, a call for his release would be considered interference in the Indian judicial process, which could jeopardise UK’s ability to offer consular assistance.

He further said that with Johal’s trial underway in India, a call for his release would be considered interference in the Indian judicial process, which could jeopardise UK’s ability to offer consular assistance.

The Minister told Docherty-Hughes that Johal’s issue was brought up by the British Foreign Secretary during his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on March 1.

“Where appropriate, the Prime Minister will also raise Johal’s case during his upcoming engagements with the Indian government,” Lord Ahmed wrote in his letter to the MP.

Sunak confirmed that he raised Johal’s case during his talks with counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit but didn’t provide details.

In response to the development, campaigners for Johal said the UK government should declare Modi’s response to Sunak on the issue, and that it is “meaningless” if the Prime Minister didn’t call for “immediate release”.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson told The Guardian that it was committed to resolving Johal’s case “as soon as possible”.

“We continue to provide consular assistance to Mr Johal and his family and have consistently raised his case directly with the government of India,” the spokesperson added.

ALSO READ-Sunak Addresses Sikh Detention Issue in Talks with Modi

Previous Story

JLF’s Continued Legacy: A Gathering of Literary Minds

Next Story

Raisi seeks India’s role to end Gaza attack  

Latest from -Top News

UAE aid for Gaza in global focus

Titled Hope Remains, the documentary brings to light the UAE’s leading role in providing vital aid and support to the people of Gaza. The International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council has released a

Syria, Israel begin quiet talks

The announcement came just hours after Israeli warplanes reportedly carried out new airstrikes in Syria’s coastal provinces of Tartus and Latakia, hitting a range of military targets. Syria has confirmed the commencement

Gaza truce deal hits new snag

US says Hamas’ reply to the ceasefire plan was “totally unacceptable” and accused the Palestinian group of dragging the negotiations backward. The latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Gaza has hit

IAEA flags Iran enrichment spike

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in two separate but related reports, said Iran has boosted its uranium stockpile enriched up to 60% purity by nearly 50% since February. Iran has vehemently

World needs Dubai’s ambition: Morgan

Piers Morgan has hailed Dubai’s transformation as an example of what visionary leadership can achieve. British broadcaster Piers Morgan has praised the extraordinary ambition and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin
Go toTop

Don't Miss

UK Inflation Eases to 3.9% in November

On a monthly basis, CPI fell by 0.2 per cent

‘India-Israel bilateral trade nears $8 billion’

Talking about investments in India, Gilon said that nearly 300