Asif Iqbal Tanha (born 13 January 1996) is an Indian student activist, a former student of Jamia Millia Islamia and a member of Students Islamic Organisation of India.[1] He was allegedly involved in the Delhi Riots conspiracy case and is an accused under the UAPA Act.[2] Tanha is also associated with United Against Hate (UAH), a campaign that was started in July 2017 in response to the series of lynchings and hate crimes in India.[3]
Asif Iqbal Tanha | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 13 January 1996 Hazaribagh, Jharkhand |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Jamia Milia Islamia |
| Known for | being arrested as a result of taking part in the Citizenship Amendment Act protests |
| Spouse |
Nikhat Momin (m. 2023) |
Early life and education
editAsif Iqbal Tanha was born on 13 January 1996 in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.[4] He received his primary education in his hometown and graduated in the traditional dars-e-nizami from Jamia Misbahul Uloom, an Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh. He received a B.A. in Persian language from the Jamia Millia Islamia.[5]
Personal life
editOn 07 May 2023, Tanha married Nikhat Momin.
Political activism and controversies
editJamia violence and arrest
editAfter Indian Parliament passed the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, students started protesting in and outside their universities including Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Asif along with other activists such as Meeran Haider, Safoora Zargar were leading the protests.[6] He was representing students Islamic Organisation in Jamia Coordination Committee formed after Jamia Violence. On 15 December 2019 when Delhi Police entered in the campus forcefully to suppress the protesting students. Next day Delhi police registered an FIR against Asif and some other student activists. Delhi Police arrested Asif on 17 May 2020 during lockdown.[7]
Case status
editHe got the bail in the Delhi Riots Conspiracy case on 16 June 2021.[8] Police did not file the charge sheet in the Jamia Violence[9] case yet.[10] In his press meet after release from Jail, Tanha said he will continue the struggle against the CAA.[11]
Media trial
editOn 18 August 2020, Zee News claimed that they got Tanha's confession. In Zee News’s Special Show DNA, Sudheer Chowdhary claimed that Tanha has accepted his role in Jamia and Delhi Violence. Tanha’s counsel filed a legal case against Zee News, OpIndia and other 2 parties. Where Asif Iqbal Tanha stated before the Delhi High Court that Zee News and OpIndia violated Programme Code by making public the alleged confessional statement.[12] Delhi High Court on 15 October 2020 issued notice to Zee News channel to file an affidavit to disclose the source from where the alleged confessional statement was received.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Mobilizing against Islamophobia and defending students' rights is a way to protect Indian democracy: A profile of Asif Iqbal Tanha". The Polis Project, Inc. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ पाण्डेय, अमित. "एनएल इंटरव्यूज: "अगर आज आवाज़ नहीं उठाएंगे तो हमारी आने वाली नस्लें माफ नहीं करेगी"". Newslaundry. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Asif Tanha: A Muslim activist hoping to restore India's democracy". Asif Tanha: A Muslim activist hoping to restore India’s democracy. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Asif Iqbal Tanha, Charged With Terrorism, Was A Poor Student Finding His Politics And Voice At Jamia". HuffPost. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "'I Was Called Traitor and Jihadi': Student Activist Asif Iqbal Tanha on Being Imprisoned Under UAPA".
- ^ Scroll Staff. "Delhi violence: Jamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha arrested, charged under UAPA". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Jamia Millia student Asif Tanha arrested for role in December Delhi riots case, booked under UAPA". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Delhi riots: HC grants bail to Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, Asif Iqbal Tanha in UAPA case". The Indian Express. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Cops Entered Campus Without Permission, Assaulted Students, Says Jamia". NDTV.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ Aditi. "[BREAKING] Delhi High Court grants bail to Asif Iqbal Tanha, Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal in Delhi Riots case". Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ Paniyath, co-authored by Mohammad Dawood,Nabeela. ""You can book me in another case, but our fight will not stop": Asif Iqbal Tanha". The Caravan. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Scroll Staff. "Delhi violence: HC gives Zee News one more chance to reveal source of alleged confession". Scroll.in. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "'Media leaks need to be controlled to keep probe fair': Delhi HC slams Police". Hindustan Times. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.