AHMED Almakki’s case is a stark testament to the plight of Stateless individuals and the systemic challenges in ensuring their rights are protected. His year-long legal battle, fought tirelessly by his counsel, Akram Khan, highlights not just bureaucratic indifference but also the resilience required to protect fundamental human rights under the law.
A troubling journey of detention and uncertainty
Ahmed Almakki, a Rohingya refugee, was apprehended on September 21, 2014 by the authorities at the Padav Police Station, Gwalior. Lacking valid citizenship documents, he was charged under Sections 14(3,2) of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and Section 3 of the Passport Act, 1920. Sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment in 2015, Ahmed completed his term on September 22, 2017.
However, instead of being deported or rehabilitated, Ahmed found himself placed in a makeshift ‘temporary detention centre’ within the Padav Police Station, a facility wholly unfit for human habitation. He endured months of physical and mental harassment, with no resolution in sight regarding his citizenship or future.
In June 2018, after escaping the detention center and being rearrested in Hyderabad, Ahmed faced further criminal proceedings under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act. Following another trial, he was sentenced again, completing his second term on July 2, 2021.
