Delhi court sentences Aasiya Andrabi to life

NEW DELHI: A special court in Delhi has sentenced senior Hurriyat leader and Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Aasiya Andrabi to life imprisonment in a politically charged case under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Her two associates, Fehmida Sofi and Nahida Nasreen, were also sentenced to 30 years in prison in the same case.

On January 14, Aasiya Andrabi, Fahmida Sofi and Nahida Nasreen were convicted under Sections 20, 38 and 39 of the UAPA, as well as various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Following the conviction, India’s notorious National Investigation Agency (NIA) had sought life imprisonment for Aasiya Andrabi, accusing her of waging war against India through so-called hate speeches and asserting that “a stern message was required to be sent that conspiring against the State would invite the harshest penalty.”

The sentence was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh after hearing arguments on the quantum of punishment today. Aasiya Andrabi’s conviction follows her arrest by the NIA in April 2018. Monitoring Desk