UN Experts Condemn 'Psychological Torture' of British Man Held in India
United Nations human rights experts have issued a stark condemnation of the ongoing detention of a British citizen in India, describing his treatment as a form of psychological torture and demanding his immediate release. The case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a 39-year-old from Dumbarton near Glasgow, has drawn international scrutiny after years of legal limbo.
Eight Years of Arbitrary Detention Without Trial
Mr Johal was arrested by Indian authorities in 2017, just weeks after his wedding in the country, and has been detained there ever since. Despite being acquitted last year in a case where he was accused of financially supporting a terror group, he continues to face federal charges. Ten UN experts have now released a powerful statement calling on the Indian government to drop all remaining charges and release Mr Johal without delay.
"Eight-and-a-half years of arbitrary detention without a clear path to trial is not justice, it is unlawful suffering," the experts declared. "The prolonged uncertainty alone is a form of psychological torture." They emphasised that international law is unequivocal: torture includes severe mental suffering caused by prolonged uncertainty while awaiting trial.
A 'Profound Miscarriage of Justice'
The UN experts asserted that there is no rationale for Mr Johal's continued detention, labelling the situation a "profound miscarriage of justice." His imprisonment was previously recognised by a UN panel as arbitrary detention in 2022, and Mr Johal has claimed to have been tortured, a claim Indian authorities have denied, maintaining that due process is being followed.
In their statement published on Wednesday, the experts warned: "Time is not neutral. The long wait for an outcome has already caused intolerable anxiety and stress, and constitutes an unacceptable harm prohibited under international human rights law." They have sent a new communication about the case to Indian authorities and pledged to monitor developments closely.
Family and Charities Intensify Calls for UK Government Action
Mr Johal's brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, met Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in December and has this week reiterated his calls for the UK Government to take decisive action. "This is the strongest intervention yet from the UN," he said. "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."
He criticised the Foreign Secretary's stance, stating: "The Foreign Secretary talks about respecting India's 'independent legal system' when the truth is that my brother is trapped in a hell of endless hearings where no evidence is presented against him and no progress made." He also questioned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's commitment, noting that Starmer had previously written to then Prime Minister Boris Johnson advocating for Mr Johal's release.
Mr Johal is represented in the UK by the legal charities Redress and Reprieve, which have joined the chorus demanding government intervention. Rupert Skilbeck, director of Redress, stated: "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."
Broad UN Condemnation and Ongoing Monitoring
The ten UN experts involved include:
- The UN Special Rapporteurs on torture
- The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
- The UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of fundamental rights while countering terrorism
- The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Four members of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Their collective statement underscores the gravity of the situation and the international concern over Mr Johal's plight. The UK Government has been approached for comment regarding its response to these latest developments and its strategy to secure his release.
