India, Feb. 11 -- Dr Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas struggled to hold back tears while speaking about his son, incarcerated activist Umar Khalid, and mounting a searing attack on the criminal justice system. Khalid and co-accused Sharjeel Imam are standing trial in the 2020 Delhi riots case, having been charged under the controversial Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). They have been in custody for over five years.

Addressing the audience at the 9th Shahid Azmi memorial lecture at the Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Ilyas questioned the denial of bail to his son and called for statutory consequences against investigating officers who filed what he described as "frivolous" and "senseless" prosecutions.

Noting that "we had taken the case to th...