Safoora Zargar case came into light when a news came out that she is pregnant. This news spread very rapidly across the country. Safoora Zargar is a Jamia Millia Islamia student who was arrested by Delhi police on April 13, 2020. Police claimed that she was among those who organised an anti-CAA protest and road blockade under the Jafrabad Metro station in Delhi on February 22-23.
She is now in the second trimester of her pregnancy and was sent to Tihar Jail after being charged under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) for her alleged role in the Northeast Delhi riots. However this charge hasn’t been proven yet but it’s very harsh for a pregnant lady to be in jail.
Safoora gets hardly some minutes to talk to her husband. Most of the time she used to ask about her parents and family. Due to COVID restrictions no one is allowed to go and meet her. Even letters can’t be sent due to jail authorities rules amid corona spread.
Her husband told that despite his wife is pregnant, he is not able to meet her. Safoora’s husband told that he didn’t told her about the trolling she has been getting on Twitter and other social media sites. Her husband said that it hurts when people share such messages. He said people trolled her questioning her marital status and pregnancy.
No one can justify these things Safoora has been facing around. Only she can feel the trouble facing in the time of pregnancy when she was supposed to be cared by the family members but instead of that she is in the jail.
At the time of her arrest, she was 13 weeks pregnant. Zargar’s counsel had sought bail from Delhi court and told the court that she has been falsely implicated and was not named in the FIR. However, it was rejected.
The court was also told she is three-months pregnant, and in view of the provison of Section 437 of CrPC, she may be released on bail. It was further argued that in another FIR, pertaining to a similar offence, she has already been released on bail.
Due to the situation, Zargar’s family is worried, her sister even wrote an open letter saying the arrest during lockdown and inability to contact felt like “slow death” but they believe she will come out of this due to her strength and courage.
Zargar’s teachers in Jamia Millia Islamia said the Safoora is outspoken and a bright student. Students and the members of JCC said, “She’s one of the strongest voices in the JCC (Jamia Coordination Committee) and very much caring and helpful too,”. She helps everyone in the campus and raises the needs of students.
One of her teachers said, “Safoora is a budding scholar. I am hurted to see such derogatory remarks on social media regarding her pregnancy. It is not a question of Muslim women or Hindu women but it’s about respecting womanhood and dignity of women.”
Safoora’s family and her teachers said that they are afraid of her health as she should be given proper care in this crucial time. They said the court should consider her bail plea on medical grounds.
Although, the Delhi police officials claimed that she is fine in the jail. Her reports are normal. They said that there is a doctor for her who regularly checks her. They added, in the month of Ramzan we did proper care and provided meals accordingly, including khajoor and fruits.
Zargar’s husband said, “We have faith in democracy and freedom of speech so one could never have supposed something like this would happen. We believe in the judicial system. We hope we won’t be denied justice and that it comes sooner rather than later.”
