By Arvind Narrain and Saumya Uma
Progressive lawyers, social
activists and academics have invested much time in trying to puzzle out what is
the progressive potential of law. Sometimes, answers to deep philosophical
questions emerge from a single life. Shahid Azmi’s life (1977-2010)
exemplifies one answer to this perennial question. It was a life which took to the
legal profession with the objective of using law as a shield and tool in the
quest for justice. It was also a life which was tragically cut short, when
Shahid Azmi was assassinated at the age of thirty three.
activists and academics have invested much time in trying to puzzle out what is
the progressive potential of law. Sometimes, answers to deep philosophical
questions emerge from a single life. Shahid Azmi’s life (1977-2010)
exemplifies one answer to this perennial question. It was a life which took to the
legal profession with the objective of using law as a shield and tool in the
quest for justice. It was also a life which was tragically cut short, when
Shahid Azmi was assassinated at the age of thirty three.
Shahid entered the legal
profession, emerging out of a crucible of experiences which few people have
had. At the age of sixteen, in the midst of the Mumbai communal violence of
1992-93, he faced violence from the mob, courageously confronted a policeman
who was threatening to shoot a woman and thereafter did relief work in the
Muslim community. Disillusioned by the way Muslims were targeted in Mumbai
1992-93, he then left to Kashmir with the aim of joining the militants. Unhappy
with that experience, he returned to Mumbai.
profession, emerging out of a crucible of experiences which few people have
had. At the age of sixteen, in the midst of the Mumbai communal violence of
1992-93, he faced violence from the mob, courageously confronted a policeman
who was threatening to shoot a woman and thereafter did relief work in the
Muslim community. Disillusioned by the way Muslims were targeted in Mumbai
1992-93, he then left to Kashmir with the aim of joining the militants. Unhappy
with that experience, he returned to Mumbai.
In December 1999, he was arrested
by the Mumbai police and taken to Delhi where he was implicated in a plot to assassinate
politicians including Bal Thackeray. He
was in jail for five years, during which he experienced various forms of
physical and mental torture as well as several months of solitary confinement. According
to Shahid’s brother, Khalid Azmi, in Tihar jail, Shahid was told by one of his
co-prisoners: “There are two ways in life: one is to take to the gun to assert
your rights, but that is the wrong path. You can also take a pen and fight your
enemies till your death. Which path you decide is in your hands.” Shahid was also
encouraged by Kiran Bedi to study. He
completed his twelfth standard as well as a B.A. while in Tihar jail. He was
subsequently acquitted by the Supreme Court.
On his release, at the age of twenty-two, he was determined to continue
the struggle against injustice. For this
reason, he studied and completed a course in both journalism and law.
by the Mumbai police and taken to Delhi where he was implicated in a plot to assassinate
politicians including Bal Thackeray. He
was in jail for five years, during which he experienced various forms of
physical and mental torture as well as several months of solitary confinement. According
to Shahid’s brother, Khalid Azmi, in Tihar jail, Shahid was told by one of his
co-prisoners: “There are two ways in life: one is to take to the gun to assert
your rights, but that is the wrong path. You can also take a pen and fight your
enemies till your death. Which path you decide is in your hands.” Shahid was also
encouraged by Kiran Bedi to study. He
completed his twelfth standard as well as a B.A. while in Tihar jail. He was
subsequently acquitted by the Supreme Court.
On his release, at the age of twenty-two, he was determined to continue
the struggle against injustice. For this
reason, he studied and completed a course in both journalism and law.
Shahid Azmi’s journey from the
Mumbai slums to courts is unique. His life in Govandi in Mumbai, where he was
raised in a lower middle-class woman-headed family with four brothers, taught
him the meaning of poverty and deprivation; the communal violence in Mumbai
made him conscious of the vulnerability of Muslims in a climate charged with
religious fundamentalism; his experiences in the Tihar jail gave birth to a
feeling, that perhaps law was a tool in the struggle against oppression. Shahid
did not have the advantage of an affluent family, a law degree from a renowned
university or clientele which was passed down from other family members. He
stepped into the helms of the legal profession with a baggage of disadvantages,
including the fact that his Muslim identity and the history of imprisonment put
him on the radar of the police for several years after his release from jail.
Mumbai slums to courts is unique. His life in Govandi in Mumbai, where he was
raised in a lower middle-class woman-headed family with four brothers, taught
him the meaning of poverty and deprivation; the communal violence in Mumbai
made him conscious of the vulnerability of Muslims in a climate charged with
religious fundamentalism; his experiences in the Tihar jail gave birth to a
feeling, that perhaps law was a tool in the struggle against oppression. Shahid
did not have the advantage of an affluent family, a law degree from a renowned
university or clientele which was passed down from other family members. He
stepped into the helms of the legal profession with a baggage of disadvantages,
including the fact that his Muslim identity and the history of imprisonment put
him on the radar of the police for several years after his release from jail.
As a lawyer in his brief but
impressive career of seven years, he represented those who were falsely accused
of terror charges by an Indian state all too willing to tar innocents with the
brush of terrorism. The iconic case in Shahid’s legal career was the trial in
the Mumbai terror attacks of 26 November 2008. Shahid represented Faheem Ansari
who was a co-accused along with Ajmal Kasab.
impressive career of seven years, he represented those who were falsely accused
of terror charges by an Indian state all too willing to tar innocents with the
brush of terrorism. The iconic case in Shahid’s legal career was the trial in
the Mumbai terror attacks of 26 November 2008. Shahid represented Faheem Ansari
who was a co-accused along with Ajmal Kasab.
Shahid’s sharpness and brilliance
as a criminal lawyer was instrumental in securing the acquittal. In Khalid’s
opinion, Shahid was able to cast reasonable doubt on the case of the
prosecution that Faheem Ansari was indeed involved in the attack at all. The
state’s case was that Faheem prepared the map, went to Nepal and forwarded it
to Sabauddin who forwarded it to Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) or Lashkar-e-Toiba
(LeT) and the map was shown as recovered from the pocket of Abu Ismail – who
was killed in the same encounter in which Ajmal Kasab was taken into custody. Shahid’s argument was that Faheem never
prepared a map, and that at the relevant time, Faheem was in Lucknow jail.
Shahid highlighted to the court that the map which was shown as being recovered
was a fresh map and did not even have folds on it. There was not a single drop
of blood on it, which was most strange, if it had actually been recovered from
the pocket of Abu Ismail. The map is supposed to have changed many hands, and travelled
from Nepal to Pakistan and from Pakistan via sea to Mumbai and was yet
creaseless and had not become soft due to the sea’s humidity. Shahid also
questioned the need for a hand-drawn map in the age of computers, as well as writings
with two different inks on the panchnama – indicative of manipulation of
evidence. The cross-examination of Shahid ensured that Faheem was acquitted by
the trial court. Unfortunately Shahid was killed some months before the order
of acquittal dated 3 August 2010. Both the High Court and the Supreme Court
concurred with the findings of the sessions court subsequently.
as a criminal lawyer was instrumental in securing the acquittal. In Khalid’s
opinion, Shahid was able to cast reasonable doubt on the case of the
prosecution that Faheem Ansari was indeed involved in the attack at all. The
state’s case was that Faheem prepared the map, went to Nepal and forwarded it
to Sabauddin who forwarded it to Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) or Lashkar-e-Toiba
(LeT) and the map was shown as recovered from the pocket of Abu Ismail – who
was killed in the same encounter in which Ajmal Kasab was taken into custody. Shahid’s argument was that Faheem never
prepared a map, and that at the relevant time, Faheem was in Lucknow jail.
Shahid highlighted to the court that the map which was shown as being recovered
was a fresh map and did not even have folds on it. There was not a single drop
of blood on it, which was most strange, if it had actually been recovered from
the pocket of Abu Ismail. The map is supposed to have changed many hands, and travelled
from Nepal to Pakistan and from Pakistan via sea to Mumbai and was yet
creaseless and had not become soft due to the sea’s humidity. Shahid also
questioned the need for a hand-drawn map in the age of computers, as well as writings
with two different inks on the panchnama – indicative of manipulation of
evidence. The cross-examination of Shahid ensured that Faheem was acquitted by
the trial court. Unfortunately Shahid was killed some months before the order
of acquittal dated 3 August 2010. Both the High Court and the Supreme Court
concurred with the findings of the sessions court subsequently.
Shahid represented the accused in
other cases such as the Ghatkopar bus bombing case of 2002, Malegaon blast case
of 2006, Aurangabad arms haul case of 2006 and Mumbai train blasts of 2006.
Shahid also took up the cases of 64 suspected operatives of the Indian
Mujahideen involved in the Ahmedabad terror strikes of 2008. He argued that the Maharashtra Control of
Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) should be used for organized crime but not for terror
cases. He argued that Section 2 (1)(e) of MCOCA which focuses on “causing
insurgency” could not be justified solely on the basis of confession
unless corroborated by circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court responded positively and
stayed the trials in Malegaon blasts case, Mumbai train blasts case and
Aurangabad arms haul cases.
other cases such as the Ghatkopar bus bombing case of 2002, Malegaon blast case
of 2006, Aurangabad arms haul case of 2006 and Mumbai train blasts of 2006.
Shahid also took up the cases of 64 suspected operatives of the Indian
Mujahideen involved in the Ahmedabad terror strikes of 2008. He argued that the Maharashtra Control of
Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) should be used for organized crime but not for terror
cases. He argued that Section 2 (1)(e) of MCOCA which focuses on “causing
insurgency” could not be justified solely on the basis of confession
unless corroborated by circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court responded positively and
stayed the trials in Malegaon blasts case, Mumbai train blasts case and
Aurangabad arms haul cases.
Shahid alleged custodial torture
of persons accused in the Mumbai train blasts case, in Arthur Road jail and
petitioned the Bombay High Court in July 2008.
The High Court ordered an inquiry and found his allegations to be true, and
held that jail superintendent Swati Sathe was responsible for supervising and
directly perpetuating the torture.
Strictures were passed against her by the court and predictably, she was
transferred without loss of pay. Shahid was also successful in preventing the
screening of the film ‘Black Friday’ until completion of the trial into the
1993 attacks, in order not to prejudice the mind of the public or the courts. Unfairly named as a ‘terrorist’s lawyer’, he
did not confine his work to anti-terror cases, but worked for asserting the
rights of the poor who were ousted when Mithi river was beautified as well as
slum dwellers whose houses were being demolished. The numerous people who sought
his legal assistance and the late hours which Shahid kept are testimony to his commitment
as well as his courageous advocacy.
of persons accused in the Mumbai train blasts case, in Arthur Road jail and
petitioned the Bombay High Court in July 2008.
The High Court ordered an inquiry and found his allegations to be true, and
held that jail superintendent Swati Sathe was responsible for supervising and
directly perpetuating the torture.
Strictures were passed against her by the court and predictably, she was
transferred without loss of pay. Shahid was also successful in preventing the
screening of the film ‘Black Friday’ until completion of the trial into the
1993 attacks, in order not to prejudice the mind of the public or the courts. Unfairly named as a ‘terrorist’s lawyer’, he
did not confine his work to anti-terror cases, but worked for asserting the
rights of the poor who were ousted when Mithi river was beautified as well as
slum dwellers whose houses were being demolished. The numerous people who sought
his legal assistance and the late hours which Shahid kept are testimony to his commitment
as well as his courageous advocacy.
The words of Roy Black – an
American criminal defense lawyer – were pinned on Shahid’s desk and inspired him
till the day of his death. It aptly summed up the principles Shahid stood by in
his life:
American criminal defense lawyer – were pinned on Shahid’s desk and inspired him
till the day of his death. It aptly summed up the principles Shahid stood by in
his life:
“By showing me injustice, he taught me to love
justice. By teaching me what pain and humiliation were all about, he awakened
my heart to mercy. Through these
hardships I learned hard lessons. Fight against prejudice, battle the
oppressors, support the underdog. Question authority, shake up the system,
never be discouraged by hard times and hard people. Embrace those who are placed last, to whom
even bottom looks like up. It took me
some time to find my mission in life – that of a criminal defense lawyer. But
that ‘school’, and that Teacher, put me on my true path. I will never be discouraged. Even thorns and
thistles can teach you something, and lead to success.”
justice. By teaching me what pain and humiliation were all about, he awakened
my heart to mercy. Through these
hardships I learned hard lessons. Fight against prejudice, battle the
oppressors, support the underdog. Question authority, shake up the system,
never be discouraged by hard times and hard people. Embrace those who are placed last, to whom
even bottom looks like up. It took me
some time to find my mission in life – that of a criminal defense lawyer. But
that ‘school’, and that Teacher, put me on my true path. I will never be discouraged. Even thorns and
thistles can teach you something, and lead to success.”
Perhaps emblematic of the
impossibility of extinguishing the ideal for which Shahid stood for is the path
taken by his youngest brother Khalid. Khalid was inspired to study law by
Shahid, who told him that sooner or later he would be killed and that ‘if
something happens to me you should carry forward the work’. It was barely four months after Khalid completed
studying law that Shahid was shot dead in his office in Kurla. The
responsibility fell on Khalid to take up his brother’s cases and complete them.
impossibility of extinguishing the ideal for which Shahid stood for is the path
taken by his youngest brother Khalid. Khalid was inspired to study law by
Shahid, who told him that sooner or later he would be killed and that ‘if
something happens to me you should carry forward the work’. It was barely four months after Khalid completed
studying law that Shahid was shot dead in his office in Kurla. The
responsibility fell on Khalid to take up his brother’s cases and complete them.
The time following Shahid’s assassination
was a time of fear, with many advocates unwilling to take on Shahid’s cases.
However Khalid ensured that there was a continuity in his brother’s work by first
appointing counsel after much difficulty, and thereafter arguing the cases
himself. He simultaneously built a team
of young and committed lawyers to carry forward the sensitive and
life-threatening work. Khalid himself is barely thirty years of age and seems
too young to discharge such an enormous responsibility. When asked whether he was ever afraid that he
too could be killed, Khalid responded: ‘I have never felt a fear because I have
nothing to lose. I have lost my brother – that means that I have lost
everything.’ It is also admirable that their mother, Rehana Azmi, after losing
one son, extends consistent support to the work of the other son in the
perilous path of justice, while the eldest brother, Arif Azmi, quietly backs
his family.
was a time of fear, with many advocates unwilling to take on Shahid’s cases.
However Khalid ensured that there was a continuity in his brother’s work by first
appointing counsel after much difficulty, and thereafter arguing the cases
himself. He simultaneously built a team
of young and committed lawyers to carry forward the sensitive and
life-threatening work. Khalid himself is barely thirty years of age and seems
too young to discharge such an enormous responsibility. When asked whether he was ever afraid that he
too could be killed, Khalid responded: ‘I have never felt a fear because I have
nothing to lose. I have lost my brother – that means that I have lost
everything.’ It is also admirable that their mother, Rehana Azmi, after losing
one son, extends consistent support to the work of the other son in the
perilous path of justice, while the eldest brother, Arif Azmi, quietly backs
his family.
Shahid’s story also spoke
directly to film director, Hansal Mehta and producer Anurag Kashyap, who recently
completed a film on Shahid’s life, titled ‘Shahid’. A Shahid Azmi memorial
lecture has also been commenced in February 2012. These will, perhaps, inspire
many others to take forward the legacy of Shahid.
directly to film director, Hansal Mehta and producer Anurag Kashyap, who recently
completed a film on Shahid’s life, titled ‘Shahid’. A Shahid Azmi memorial
lecture has also been commenced in February 2012. These will, perhaps, inspire
many others to take forward the legacy of Shahid.
The question which his killers
need to ponder is – Did you kill the desire for justice by killing Shahid Azmi?
Shahid’s assassination may have created an initial fear and insecurity among
defence lawyers handling similar cases.
But today, it has inspired numerous Muslim youth in the locality where
he worked and was killed, to study law and enter the legal profession, to carry
forward the ideals that Shahid stood for.
This, despite the clear and imminent danger to their own lives, which
they are acutely conscious of. In a manner similar to the shooting of Malala Yousufzai
that has strengthened the determination of girls to access education, the
killing of Shahid has given a new lease of life to his work – from within an
underprivileged community of Mumbai that has long been wronged by state
agencies and fundamentalist groups alike. The assassination of Shahid, instead of
killing the work that he had undertaken, has only succeeded in multiplying the
quest for justice in innumerable hearts and minds.
need to ponder is – Did you kill the desire for justice by killing Shahid Azmi?
Shahid’s assassination may have created an initial fear and insecurity among
defence lawyers handling similar cases.
But today, it has inspired numerous Muslim youth in the locality where
he worked and was killed, to study law and enter the legal profession, to carry
forward the ideals that Shahid stood for.
This, despite the clear and imminent danger to their own lives, which
they are acutely conscious of. In a manner similar to the shooting of Malala Yousufzai
that has strengthened the determination of girls to access education, the
killing of Shahid has given a new lease of life to his work – from within an
underprivileged community of Mumbai that has long been wronged by state
agencies and fundamentalist groups alike. The assassination of Shahid, instead of
killing the work that he had undertaken, has only succeeded in multiplying the
quest for justice in innumerable hearts and minds.
Arvind Narrain is a lawyer with the Alternative Law Forum. Saumya Uma is an independent researcher on
gender, law and human rights.
gender, law and human rights.
