British National Released on Bail in India After Nearly Nine Years of Detention

Jagtar Singh Johal, a British national detained in India for almost nine years without a conviction, has been released on bail. The 39-year-old, originally from Dumbarton, Scotland, was arrested by Indian authorities in 2017 on suspicion of terrorism offenses, just weeks after his wedding.

Human rights organization Reprieve confirmed Johal's release on Thursday, though he was only able to leave prison Friday morning. His brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, expressed relief but cautioned that the fight is not over, stating that his brother remains on trial for charges that could carry the death penalty. "There have been so many setbacks and disappointments in the last nine years that I didn’t dare to believe it until I saw Jagtar walking out of the prison gates with my own eyes," he said.

Johal's supporters claim he faces strict bail conditions, including the surrender of his passport, and that the legal process is a "sham designed to punish him for standing up for human rights." Reprieve deputy executive director Dan Dolan noted that Johal's release from prison was delayed until a habeas corpus petition was filed and a judge warned the jail authorities of contempt of court.

Johal was previously acquitted last year in a case where he was accused of financially supporting a terror group, but he still faces federal charges in India related to similar allegations. A group of UN experts has described his imprisonment as an arbitrary detention and a form of "psychological torture," claims that Indian authorities have denied, asserting that due process is being followed.

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney welcomed the news of Johal's release, calling it a "significant step forward" for him and his family. Dolan urged the UK government to intervene to secure Johal's safe return to Scotland.