Amid the controversy surrounding a letter from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to imprisoned activist Umar Khalid, Khalid’s father revealed meeting the mayor during a recent US trip. Mamdani handed over a supportive letter to Khalid’s parents during the meeting, expressing concern over Khalid’s incarceration. Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, also a spokesperson for AIMPLB, shared insights from the meeting with the mayor, highlighting his support for their son.
Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas detailed his half-hour conversation with Mayor Mamdani, emphasizing the mayor’s gesture of writing a letter in support of Umar Khalid. Mamdani, who had previously read excerpts from Umar’s prison diary, reiterated his concern over Khalid’s prolonged detention without trial or bail. The father mentioned Mamdani’s inquiry about how he could assist in the matter, to which he responded with a simple request for prayers.
During the meeting, Mamdani assured all possible help for Umar Khalid’s case and also met with two Congressmen who pledged their support. Following the encounter, Mamdani’s handwritten note, now viral on social media, was shared. Umar Khalid’s father expressed optimism about a positive outcome regarding his son’s bail after attending recent Supreme Court proceedings.
Notably, Umar Khalid, a student activist, has been in jail for nearly five years in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots. When asked about involving Mayor Mamdani in discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Khalid’s father emphasized resolving the matter internally. He highlighted concerns about the treatment of Muslims in India, citing discrimination and false implications against Muslim youth.
Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas addressed the international resonance of Umar Khalid’s case, attributing it to the global nature of issues in today’s interconnected world. He mentioned previous expressions of concern by intellectuals and the impact of Mamdani’s statements during elections in India. Refusing to draw parallels between Mamdani and Rahul Gandhi, he redirected a question about a Bangladeshi player in an IPL team to Shah Rukh Khan.
