Scottish Activist Held in India Faces Psychological Torture, UN Says
A Scottish activist who has been held in "arbitrary detention" in India for eight years is reportedly enduring "a form of psychological torture," according to United Nations experts.
Jagtar Singh Johal, a 39-year-old from Dumbarton, was arrested by Indian authorities in 2017, just weeks after his wedding in India, and has remained in detention since then.
Although Johal was acquitted last year in a case accusing him of financially supporting a terror group, he continues to face federal charges from Indian authorities.
Ten UN experts have issued a statement urging the Indian government to drop the remaining charges and release Johal immediately.
The experts, including members of a UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, stated there is no justification for Johal's continued detention and described the case as a "profound miscarriage of justice."
In their statement, they emphasized:
"International law is unequivocal: torture includes severe mental suffering caused by prolonged uncertainty while awaiting trial.
The long wait for an outcome has already caused intolerable anxiety and stress, and constitutes an unacceptable harm prohibited under international human rights law."
Johal's imprisonment was recognized as arbitrary detention by a UN panel in 2022, and he has alleged that he was subjected to torture.
Indian authorities have denied these torture allegations and have consistently maintained that due process is being observed.
The UN experts have submitted a new communication regarding the case to Indian authorities and will continue to monitor developments.
The group of 10 experts comprises UN Special Rapporteurs—independent human rights specialists appointed by the UN Human Rights Council—and four members of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
Johal's brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, has reiterated calls this week for the UK government to intervene and secure his brother's release.
He stated:
"This is the strongest intervention yet from the UN. It is clear as day to legal experts that my brother should not be in prison and that keeping him there for eight years without any evidence is a terrible injustice."
Gurpreet Singh Johal met with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in December to discuss the case.
Johal is represented in the UK by the legal charities Redress and Reprieve, both of which have called on the UK government to take further action.
Rupert Skilbeck, director of Redress, commented:
"The UK government should be doing more to end this injustice against a British citizen."
Dan Dolan, deputy chief executive of Reprieve, added:
"This important intervention should be a wake-up call for the UK government, which is not doing nearly enough to help this young British man."
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office stated:
"We continue to raise concerns about Mr Johal's prolonged detention at every appropriate opportunity with the government of India, and we have made clear that faster progress is needed to reach a resolution, including a full investigation into Mr Johal's allegations of torture."
