The central government extended the ban on SIMI for another five years today.
Union Home Ministry confirmed the development on its official X account. The ‘Students Islamic Movement of India’ was declared unlawful under stringent UAPA.
“The SIMI has been found involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony to threaten the sovereignty, security and integrity of Bharat,” the home ministry said in the statement.
As per the notification, SIMI was banned as an “unlawful association for a further period of five years under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967.)” The Ministry had declared the SIMI as an unlawful association on September 27, 2001, and it later kept on extending the ban on September 26, 2003, February 8, 2006, February 7, 2008, February 5, 2010, February 3, 2012, February 1, 2014, and January 31, 2019.
The fresh action came considering that the SIMI is “continuing to be involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing the peace and communal harmony in the country which are prejudicial to the sovereignty, security and integrity of India.” Many criminal cases have been registered against SIMI and its members under various sections of law including the UAPA.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the move is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy. “Bolstering PM @narendramodi Ji’s vision of zero tolerance against terrorism ‘Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)’ has been declared as an ‘Unlawful Association’ for a further period of five years under the UAPA.
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