In pictures: At Jamia Millia, women are at the forefront of citizenship law protests

Since last Sunday’s violent police crackdown at Jamia Millia Islamia University, students from different universities along with residents of Jamia Nagar have been coming out every day to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the police brutality. 

At the vanguard of this protest are women of all ages and faiths. “We have done one small thing to ensure that these protests go a long way. We have ensured the presence of women here,” said Aqdas Sami, a Jamia student and one of the organisers of the protest.

Today, Akhtari Begum, a resident of Johri Farm, joined the protest even though she suffers from a heart ailment. “I have come because students in Jamia have been brutalised,” said Begum, 65. “They had to suffer because they were protesting. Well, we are out here protesting too now. Do what you can.”

Saba, a student in Jamia’s education department, was one of around 500 women who took part in today’s protest outside the university. “I am out here to protest against the CAA as well as the NRC, which will also be introduced soon,” she said, referring to the National Register of Citizens. “The women have come out of their homes, on the roads, in solidarity with the students of Jamia.”

Here are a few glimpses from the protest today.

All photographs by Ismat Ara.