Sons Of Liberty International: June 22, 2026 

Washington, D.C. — Mr. Matthew Aaron VanDyke, a United States citizen and award-winning documentarian on a 48-day hunger strike at Tihar jail, New Delhi, India, is awaiting answers from high U.S. officials at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. 

Matthew was arrested without due process in India, targeting his documentary and nonprofit work. He was detained on March 11th at Kolkata airport, then transferred to the NIA on March 13th for a month-long interrogation before being transferred on April 6th to Tihar jail in New Delhi. 

On June 1st, the Delhi Court denied an application from Advocates Rohit Dandriyal and Rohit Gour, who are Matthew’s legal counsel, for regular communication with his parents, who live in the United States, and who are senior citizens. A request for a private hospital transfer to address his health issues was also declined. The court has also approved an NIA extension for 90 more days! Next hearing is July 2, 2026. We don’t expect the U.S. Embassy to have access. 

Various rights denied to Matthew since his detainment:

1. The right to communicate with family regularly 
2. The right to medical exams and treatment at a private hospital (his family would pay for that), 
3. Denied prescription medications 
4. Denied proteins required for recovery of a leg injury

Matthew began a hunger strike on May 6th, as verified by his legal counsel and the US Embassy in New Delhi, to await answers and action from his own government. 

Matthew is in urgent need of US diplomatic answers he’s not receiving as his health continues to deteriorate since his transfer from NIA headquarters, where he walked normally, and was then transported to Tihar jail with a visibly injured leg requiring support to walk, and a walker/wheelchair he didn’t need before his detention. 

UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) — India signed it in 1997 but has not ratified it. This directly governs treatment of detainees, prohibition of torture, and conditions of custody.

Optional Protocol to CAT (OPCAT) — India has neither signed nor ratified this. It establishes a system of regular visits by independent bodies to places of detention, which Matthew has also been denied. 

The U.S. Embassy is said to be “engaged.” Ambassador Gor reportedly briefed both Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Secretary Rubio on Matthew’s situation during Sec Rubio’s visit to Delhi, India, May 24-26. However, the Ambassador and Chief of Staff are said to be “unable” to visit Matthew based on existing Embassy protocols. 

The family has not received concrete answers regarding an official letter that was requested from the U.S. Embassy despite traveling to DC to advocate on Matthew’s behalf, June 1-3.

“This is a humanitarian emergency for our family,” his mother said. “Matthew has spent his life documenting human suffering and supporting people in crisis. We are pleading for his safe return home.” 

The family emphasizes that this is an urgent humanitarian request for Matthew to immediately receive a consular visit from a high U.S. official, otherwise official letter to address his situation. The family asks the U.S. government to immediately take diplomatic measures to bring Matthew VanDyke back home.