Geneva: United Nations experts warned Wednesday that India’s years-long detention of a Sikh blogger and rights activist from Scotland amounted to “psychological torture”, demanding his immediate release.
Jagtar Singh Johal was arrested in India in November 2017 while there for his wedding on accusations of being part of a terror plot against right-wing Hindu leaders.
Ten independent UN experts, including the special rapporteurs on torture and on protecting rights while countering terrorism, pointed out that he had now spent “over eight years -- 3,089 days -- in prison without a foreseeable end to his case”.
“The prolonged uncertainty alone is a form of psychological torture,” they warned.
“International law is unequivocal: torture includes severe mental suffering caused by prolonged uncertainty while awaiting trial.”
The experts, who are mandated by the UN Human Rights Council but who do not speak on behalf of the United Nations, said that when Johal was first seized, he was held incommunicado for 10 days.
During that time he was allegedly subjected to mistreatment, including electric shocks and threats of being killed. A court had in March 2025 acquitted him of one of several terrorism-linked charges, “yet Johal remains behind bars”, their statement said.
“The fact that he was acquitted, yet still faces near-identical charges, raises serious concerns about double jeopardy, the presumption of innocence, the misuse of counter-terrorism laws, and the integrity of the proceedings,” the experts said.
They highlighted recent reports that Johal’s detention conditions had worsened, with restrictions on contact with family, limited access to basic hygiene and periods of solitary confinement.
“This case represents the cumulative impact of injustice,” the experts said.
“The reliance on contested evidence, multiplication of proceedings on near-identical charges, allegations that he was targeted because of his faith, his continued arbitrary detention and the absence of accountability for torture allegations reflect a profound miscarriage of justice.”
The experts demanded that India drop the remaining charges and “release Johal without delay”, also calling for “a full, prompt and independent investigation into the allegations of torture and ill-treatment and the misadministration of justice”.
“Time is not neutral,” they insisted.
“The long wait for an outcome has already caused intolerable anxiety and stress, and constitutes an unacceptable harm prohibited under international human rights law.”
