Professor Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba is a scholar, a poet, a writer, and an activist. He spent a large portion of his career as an activist dedicated to fighting for the rights of various Indigenous tribal communities within India. He was initially arrested by the police in 2014 and was falsely accused of links to banned Maoist organizations. In March 2017, he was convicted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and sentenced to life in prison.

Saibaba suffers from post-polio syndroms and other severe health issues including a heart condition, brain cyst, hypertension, and breathing difficulties. His condition continues to worsen in jail due to a lack of treatment. In 2018, his left arm was paralyzed due to nerve damage and the lack of timely treatment, and he is no longer able to use his hands for writing or daily functions. His family said he has not been provided any relief or necessary treatment in jail. He contracted Covid-19 twice in jail, in January 2021 and in February 2022, leading to a further deterioration of his health. The courts have denied repeated appeals for parole and requests for medical bail.

Saibaba’s treatment in prison is a violation of his inherent rights to life, health, and privacy. This matter goes beyond his release, he is being denied a level of dignity and treatment that nobody should be deprived of.

We urge the relevant authorities in India to: 

• Release G.N. Saibaba on humanitarian grounds for health reasons. 
• Provide G.N. Saibaba with immediate and ongoing access to adequate health care, move him out of solitary confinement and make reasonable accommodations for his disabilities.
• Ensure human rights defenders in India are able to carry out their human rights work without fear of reprisals, including through misuse of the criminal justice system.