The Systematic Persecution of Muslims in India: A Human Rights Crisis

Human society has always been socially heterogeneous, not homogeneous, and people have been intentionally treated unequally, especially in terms of status, power, and income. These inequalities are particularly evident in the Muslim community, where disparities in well-being are clear. A striking example of this was a video that emerged from India in February 2020, showing five severely injured men lying on the street, beaten by several policemen, and forced to sing the Indian national anthem. The video was filmed on February 24 in Kardampuri, a neighborhood in northeast Delhi. One of the men, 23-year-old Faizan, later died from his injuries two days later. In the three days of communal violence that followed, at least 52 people were killed, more than 200 were injured, properties were destroyed, and communities were displaced in targeted attacks by Hindu mobs. While a policeman and some Hindus were also killed, the majority of victims were Muslims. India, home to about 200 million Muslims, one of the world’s largest Muslim populations, is a predominantly Hindu country where Muslims remain a minority. Since the country’s independence, Muslims have often faced discrimination, prejudice, and violence, despite constitutional protections. In recent years, however, the persecution of Muslims has escalated, under the leadership of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising serious concerns about the erosion of India’s secular foundations and the protection of minority rights.

The rise of the BJP has been accompanied by the promotion of Hindutva, a form of Hindu nationalism. Hindutva traces its ideological roots to colonial-era figures like V. D. Savarkar, who in his book Hindutva: Who Is a Hindu? argued that Hindus are the “true sons of the soil” of India, as their holy lands are in India, while the Christian and Muslim holy lands are elsewhere. Hindutva advocates for India to be a Hindu state, viewing Muslims and other religious minorities as outsiders, despite most Indian Muslims being descendants of Hindus who converted to Islam. The 1947 Partition, which resulted in the creation of Pakistan, is often cited by Hindu nationalists as evidence of Muslim disloyalty. This ideology has fostered an environment where Muslims are frequently seen as foreigners in their own country.

Reports indicate that BJP leaders have made inflammatory remarks against Muslims, which have been echoed by their supporters, contributing to an atmosphere of fear and hostility. A disturbing video from 2019 shows the lynching of 22-year-old Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand, where a group of men forced him to chant “Jai Shri Ram” (Hail Lord Ram), a slogan associated with Hindu hard-liners, while they beat him for an alleged crime. Ansari died in the hospital the same day that the US State Department released its report on international religious freedom, which highlighted the growing religiously motivated violence in India. The report noted that authorities often failed to prosecute perpetrators of such violence, including those involved in “cow vigilante” attacks, which often led to mob violence and intimidation.

One of the most contentious measures taken by the Indian government was the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in 2019. This law provided a pathway to citizenship for refugees from neighboring countries, but explicitly excluded Muslims, making religion a criterion for nationality. This move was widely criticized as unconstitutional and discriminatory. Another measure, the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, further intensified militarization in the Muslim-majority region. Anticipating protests, the Indian government deployed additional troops, detained thousands of people, and cut off phone and internet connections. Reports also documented the military presence near mosques, restrictions on religious gatherings, and interference with religious practices. This heavy militarization has created an environment of fear and oppression, severely restricting the freedom of Kashmiri Muslims to practice and express their faith. Human rights organizations have documented widespread abuses, including arbitrary detentions and restrictions on freedom of expression.

Beyond these legal measures, Muslims in India face systemic discrimination in many aspects of life. Studies have shown that Muslims are disproportionately affected by poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to quality education and healthcare. Muslim women have also been subjected to discrimination and violence. Research has suggested that Muslim women in Delhi who wear the hijab are particularly vulnerable to stigmatization, as the hijab is seen as a marker of “otherness” that often triggers Islamophobic reactions. This socio-economic marginalization is compounded by social ostracism, violence, and attacks on places of worship.

Internationally, human rights organizations have expressed deep concern over these developments. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has consistently documented the rise of Islamophobia, hate crimes, and police complicity in anti-Muslim violence in India. The organization has criticized the Indian government’s failure to hold perpetrators accountable and has called for concrete measures to ensure justice for victims of hate crimes and prevent further violence. The United Nations has called for investigations into human rights violations in Kashmir, while organizations like Amnesty International have condemned the discriminatory nature of the CAA. Pakistan has raised these issues on various international platforms, urging the global community to hold India accountable for its actions.

The systematic persecution of Muslims in India represents a grave human rights crisis that threatens the democratic and secular fabric of the nation. It is essential for the international community to continue to monitor the situation and advocate for accountability and justice. Only through collective efforts can the rights and dignity of Muslims in India be safeguarded.