Guilty until proven innocent

 

 

“Just because a person carries a gun doesn’t necessarily mean what he’s saying has no relevance. Instead of giving these people a voice, the government tries to silence them, leading to anger and resentment. Eventually these people rebel against the system, whereby the state conveniently brands them as ‘terrorists’ and ‘traitors’. These people are not terrorists, the only crime they’ve committed is to act against ‘state terrorism’. As a lawyer, I would prefer that they keep their activities within the confines of the law, but ultimately it’s their decision. The state too needs to introspect as to why people turn to anti-social ways of expression.

In my profession, I’ve found that about 95% of people accused of terrorist activities are actually innocent. The state targets them for their views and beliefs. If the police catches a suspect even about 48 or 72 hours after a terrorist act, then usually it turns out more often than not, there’s an innocent in custody. Any terrorist would have left the city by that time. The police just arrests some people who fit a particular profile, for example, members of SIMI, Ahle Hadis, or any other non-conformist Muslim organization. The public sentiment too is not in their favour, so much so that no lawyer wants to represent them.

As a Muslim, I have experienced the worst type of prejudice. I used to be a SIMI activist, when Babri Masjid was demolished. When I protested against sectarianism, I was branded an anti-national and thrown in jail under TADA. I was 16 then. During my six years in jail, I realised that there were thousands like me, punished merely for believing in an alternate view. I decided to become a criminal lawyer in order to help these innocent people. To give voice to these silent masses, I started studying in Tihar Jail.

I have fought for the rights of the Mumbai 7/11 accused, including those of the Vile Parle, Mulund, Ghatkopar, Gateway of India, Zaveri Bazar, Aurangabad and Malegaon bomb blast accused. Barring one, all of the others accused are innocent. Fighting for what I believe in, has earned me the title of the ‘Terrorist Lawyer’. Whenever I travel in Mumbai local trains, people keep asking me why I help these people; why do I help the terrorists. I try to explain that most of them are innocent and that, they are the ones whose rights are being violated. Instead of conveniently accusing someone, we should corner the real culprits. But it’s not easy – sectarian elements have successfully planted seeds of hatred against the Muslim community; people aren’t ready to give us the benefit of doubt. They aren’t ready to listen and understand. That’s why when I try and tell them that people who fight against the system don’t deserve to be abhorred by the whole nation, it falls on deaf ears. Against such deep rooted prejudice, my duty as a lawyer is to make sure that these people get justice and what was meted to me, does not happen to them.”