What's new

Is it harder to be a Muslim in India or a Hindu in Pakistan, or a Hindu in Bangladesh?

Which community is most vulnerable in the Indian subcontinent?


  • Total voters
    19
He claims to be a Christian but sides with the sanghis and didn't condemn sanghi attacks on Indian Christians.

Something doesn't add up. :inti
you claim to be a Bangladeshi canadian but all you post about is india, something doesn’t add up
 
Inter-religious clashes displace Muslims in north India




The fear of radical Hindu outfits engineering another attack and arbitrary police detentions has forced hundreds of Muslims to flee their homes and seek refuge with their friends and relatives who live miles away.



A sense of dread hangs over Nuh, a small town in north India’s Haryana state, where Muslims are in the majority.

Two days ago, the town and nearby districts were engulfed in “communal violence”, a reference made in India for inter-religious clashes.

As the police have imposed a strict curfew, some local accounts suggest that dozens of Muslim families have fled their homes, fearing both a second round of mob attack led by radical Hindu outfits and arbitrary police detentions.

Ramzan Chaudhry, a senior lawyer and activist from Nuh, told TRT World that there are at least 2000 Muslims, mostly men, who have fled their villages in and around Nuh.

“The number could be much higher. Almost all the villages have emptied,” Chaudhry said.

Salman (name changed), a resident of Nuh, spoke to TRT World at a time when he was fleeing his home along with his family.

Salman spoke about various aspects of his life — the difficult decision to leave home, the uncertainty it poses and the initial signs of violence. Then he inquired about an old video of 19-year-old Imam Saad, which has gone viral on social media in the last couple of days.

“Have you seen it?” he asked.

On July 31, at the height of the violence, Saad was shot dead by an angry mob while he was in a mosque in Haryana’s Gurugram district, often known as the "Millennium City" for being a hub of major multinational corporations and tech giants.

After his killing, the viral video surfaced on the internet. In it, Saad was seen singing a song that reflected his love for his country. "Hindu-Muslim baith ke khaye thaali mei Aisa Hindustan bana de ya Allah" (Oh Allah! Create a Hindustan where both Hindus and Muslims feast together.)



("Hindu-Muslim baith ke khaye thaali meiAisa Hindustan bana de ya Allah"Imam Saad called for peace and coexistence of Hindu Muslims.Last night he was killed by Hindu Mob in Anjuman Masjid Gurgaon.)


Saad’s killing happened a few hours after a Hindu procession turned violent 47 kilometres away in Nuh.

The administration of Anjuman Jama Masjid, where Saad was killed, said that the Hindu mob entered the mosque at midnight carrying guns, swords and lathis (bamboo canes) with the intention of damaging the mosque and hurting Muslims on the premises. They were also allegedly chanting Hindu supremacist slogans.

According to the latest media reports, the death toll has touched six, and over 50 people have been injured in the communal violence in Haryana.

The government has suspended internet services in the district until August 2 and imposed a ban on the assembly of more than five people to take back control of the streets.

The Procession

On the morning of July 31, the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), two extremist organisations that believe in restoring ancient Hindu supremacy in India, organised a religious procession in Nalhar, a village in Nuh.

The VHP says that the procession was stopped by a “particular community” and pelted with stones. The VHP did not explicitly name the community, but it is widely understood to be a reference to Muslims.

A VHP spokesperson described the “attack” on their procession as "part of a well-planned conspiracy."

Haryana’s Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, condemned the violence in Nuh but appeared to repeat the talking points of the VHP spokesperson, putting more emphasis on the disruption of the Hindu procession.
“This is an unfortunate incident… Not just the people in Yatra but the police were also attacked… This definitely looks like a part of a big conspiracy,” Khattar told local media.

Speaking to TRT World, both Hindu and Muslim residents say that in the run-up to the procession led by VHP and Bajrang Dal workers, provocative media content targeting Muslims was circulated via WhatsApp, Twitter and other social media platforms. Locals say the entire rightwing ecosystem in the region was stimulated with chanting of near-genocidal slogans, offensive political dog whistles and other derogatory content targeting Muslims.

In a show of bravado, some radical Hindu activists vowed to take the procession through Muslim-majority neighbourhoods in Nuh.



(EXCLUSIVE: Few hours before violence erupted in Haryana, Surendra Jain, General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad was present at Nuh's Nalhar Mahadev Mandir (destination of procession) where he delivered hate speech against Muslims in Mewat.We have obtained video of his speech)


Mewat Vikas Sabha, a social organisation based in Haryana, informed the media that the Hindu procession was a “calculated” move to stir communal violence in the Muslim-majority Nuh.

“Very provocative videos were circulated in the last two days. Despite that, the administration allowed the Yatra to enter Mewat. And when the violence began, the administration simply collapsed, and the police disappeared,” the organisation was quoted as saying in the Indian publication The Wire.

The police have not yet determined which side, Muslims or Hindus, was responsible for starting the violence. However, they have confirmed that the violence took on a communal form.

Deputy Commissioner Haryana Police, Prashant Pawar, told the media on August 1 that, at present, the situation was peaceful. He also mentioned that the Police conducted a ‘black flag march’ in the affected areas.

The crackdown

Speaking to TRT World, several people in Nuh, Gurugram and Palwal alleged that the police are conducting arbitrary arrests of Muslim men from their residences — another factor that is forcing them to flee their homes

Salman, the resident of Nuh who also left his home for safety reasons, said the police are going after the victims of the violence, who, according to him, are Muslims.

He said the police are detaining young and old, whoever they get their hands on.

As per local media reports, at least 116 people from Nuh have been detained by the police. The breakdown of the number of Muslims and Hindus who have been detained hasn’t been shared with the media yet.

Satyapal Malik, once a “faithful” servant of the BJP who administered the sensitive region of Jammu and Kashmir as governor between 2018 and 2019, said the violence in Nuh and other areas has been well-coordinated and aimed at drawing a wedge between Muslims and Hindus in the area.

This divide, he claims, exacerbates identity cleavages in the run-up to the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Manipur state in India’s northeast has been on the edge for the past three months, as the scale of violence between the Christian Kuki tribe and the Hindu Meiteis, which includes beheadings, rapes and deaths by lynchings, has caused a sense of deep insecurity in the region. The bloodletting has caused mass displacement, with hundreds of people unsure about when they could return to their homes.

The recent episode of violence in Nuh, Gurugram and other areas that are just an hour or two drive away from the Indian parliament has left many displaced Muslims wondering what the future holds for them.

"We are living in a condition of constant fear. We have been forced to leave our homes and villages. It is as though both the Hindutva goons and the police are looking for us. I don't think we can go back anytime soon," Salman said, betraying a hint of both anger and disillusionment.



@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @Devadwal @uppercut @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980 @Local.Dada @CrIc_Mystique @Van_Sri @nish_mate @SportsWarrior @kaayal
 
Inter-religious clashes displace Muslims in north India




The fear of radical Hindu outfits engineering another attack and arbitrary police detentions has forced hundreds of Muslims to flee their homes and seek refuge with their friends and relatives who live miles away.



A sense of dread hangs over Nuh, a small town in north India’s Haryana state, where Muslims are in the majority.

Two days ago, the town and nearby districts were engulfed in “communal violence”, a reference made in India for inter-religious clashes.

As the police have imposed a strict curfew, some local accounts suggest that dozens of Muslim families have fled their homes, fearing both a second round of mob attack led by radical Hindu outfits and arbitrary police detentions.

Ramzan Chaudhry, a senior lawyer and activist from Nuh, told TRT World that there are at least 2000 Muslims, mostly men, who have fled their villages in and around Nuh.

“The number could be much higher. Almost all the villages have emptied,” Chaudhry said.

Salman (name changed), a resident of Nuh, spoke to TRT World at a time when he was fleeing his home along with his family.

Salman spoke about various aspects of his life — the difficult decision to leave home, the uncertainty it poses and the initial signs of violence. Then he inquired about an old video of 19-year-old Imam Saad, which has gone viral on social media in the last couple of days.

“Have you seen it?” he asked.

On July 31, at the height of the violence, Saad was shot dead by an angry mob while he was in a mosque in Haryana’s Gurugram district, often known as the "Millennium City" for being a hub of major multinational corporations and tech giants.

After his killing, the viral video surfaced on the internet. In it, Saad was seen singing a song that reflected his love for his country. "Hindu-Muslim baith ke khaye thaali mei Aisa Hindustan bana de ya Allah" (Oh Allah! Create a Hindustan where both Hindus and Muslims feast together.)



("Hindu-Muslim baith ke khaye thaali meiAisa Hindustan bana de ya Allah"Imam Saad called for peace and coexistence of Hindu Muslims.Last night he was killed by Hindu Mob in Anjuman Masjid Gurgaon.)


Saad’s killing happened a few hours after a Hindu procession turned violent 47 kilometres away in Nuh.

The administration of Anjuman Jama Masjid, where Saad was killed, said that the Hindu mob entered the mosque at midnight carrying guns, swords and lathis (bamboo canes) with the intention of damaging the mosque and hurting Muslims on the premises. They were also allegedly chanting Hindu supremacist slogans.

According to the latest media reports, the death toll has touched six, and over 50 people have been injured in the communal violence in Haryana.

The government has suspended internet services in the district until August 2 and imposed a ban on the assembly of more than five people to take back control of the streets.

The Procession

On the morning of July 31, the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), two extremist organisations that believe in restoring ancient Hindu supremacy in India, organised a religious procession in Nalhar, a village in Nuh.

The VHP says that the procession was stopped by a “particular community” and pelted with stones. The VHP did not explicitly name the community, but it is widely understood to be a reference to Muslims.

A VHP spokesperson described the “attack” on their procession as "part of a well-planned conspiracy."

Haryana’s Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, condemned the violence in Nuh but appeared to repeat the talking points of the VHP spokesperson, putting more emphasis on the disruption of the Hindu procession.
“This is an unfortunate incident… Not just the people in Yatra but the police were also attacked… This definitely looks like a part of a big conspiracy,” Khattar told local media.

Speaking to TRT World, both Hindu and Muslim residents say that in the run-up to the procession led by VHP and Bajrang Dal workers, provocative media content targeting Muslims was circulated via WhatsApp, Twitter and other social media platforms. Locals say the entire rightwing ecosystem in the region was stimulated with chanting of near-genocidal slogans, offensive political dog whistles and other derogatory content targeting Muslims.

In a show of bravado, some radical Hindu activists vowed to take the procession through Muslim-majority neighbourhoods in Nuh.



(EXCLUSIVE: Few hours before violence erupted in Haryana, Surendra Jain, General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad was present at Nuh's Nalhar Mahadev Mandir (destination of procession) where he delivered hate speech against Muslims in Mewat.We have obtained video of his speech)


Mewat Vikas Sabha, a social organisation based in Haryana, informed the media that the Hindu procession was a “calculated” move to stir communal violence in the Muslim-majority Nuh.

“Very provocative videos were circulated in the last two days. Despite that, the administration allowed the Yatra to enter Mewat. And when the violence began, the administration simply collapsed, and the police disappeared,” the organisation was quoted as saying in the Indian publication The Wire.

The police have not yet determined which side, Muslims or Hindus, was responsible for starting the violence. However, they have confirmed that the violence took on a communal form.

Deputy Commissioner Haryana Police, Prashant Pawar, told the media on August 1 that, at present, the situation was peaceful. He also mentioned that the Police conducted a ‘black flag march’ in the affected areas.

The crackdown

Speaking to TRT World, several people in Nuh, Gurugram and Palwal alleged that the police are conducting arbitrary arrests of Muslim men from their residences — another factor that is forcing them to flee their homes

Salman, the resident of Nuh who also left his home for safety reasons, said the police are going after the victims of the violence, who, according to him, are Muslims.

He said the police are detaining young and old, whoever they get their hands on.

As per local media reports, at least 116 people from Nuh have been detained by the police. The breakdown of the number of Muslims and Hindus who have been detained hasn’t been shared with the media yet.

Satyapal Malik, once a “faithful” servant of the BJP who administered the sensitive region of Jammu and Kashmir as governor between 2018 and 2019, said the violence in Nuh and other areas has been well-coordinated and aimed at drawing a wedge between Muslims and Hindus in the area.

This divide, he claims, exacerbates identity cleavages in the run-up to the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Manipur state in India’s northeast has been on the edge for the past three months, as the scale of violence between the Christian Kuki tribe and the Hindu Meiteis, which includes beheadings, rapes and deaths by lynchings, has caused a sense of deep insecurity in the region. The bloodletting has caused mass displacement, with hundreds of people unsure about when they could return to their homes.

The recent episode of violence in Nuh, Gurugram and other areas that are just an hour or two drive away from the Indian parliament has left many displaced Muslims wondering what the future holds for them.

"We are living in a condition of constant fear. We have been forced to leave our homes and villages. It is as though both the Hindutva goons and the police are looking for us. I don't think we can go back anytime soon," Salman said, betraying a hint of both anger and disillusionment.



@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @Devadwal @uppercut @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980 @Local.Dada @CrIc_Mystique @Van_Sri @nish_mate @SportsWarrior @kaayal

2023 news,
 
Why Muslims need to kill and eat cows only? Knowing it’s illegal, why are you interested in beef only?
India isn’t pp where you can insult religion and get away with it
No word from Khalistanis on this. They will ignore this to keep their ISI masters happy. :mv


the two off you are contradicting each other.....


champ how would you know the sikhs are not unhappy about it, you live in america
 
loads - but i cant say a figue as the indian reports i listed wre using overally figures, no indian video/ article i read or listed showed just number on churches - but thats typical indian media for you - every report i list (doesnt atter which subject) never shows you depth.

Many churches reported smashed windows / doors, stones pelting at people enterring and coming out the church.

Do you have a number? Did you also notice the difference inbetween pakistan and india over christmas?

I also noticed you tried to take a sideways deflect - typical you hitman.
seems like @Hitman cant respond, he just runs away

cmon hitman respond to my post = 309

you ran away like a indian.
 
When you have to go to 2023 to find news to talk in 2026 it shows you lack recent events to back your propaganda
it doesn't its a article showing attacks by hindus on muslims, nothing changed under modi rule between 3 yrs.

if you look at the the indian minorities, indian muslims, indian dailts, indian christmas theads = ive posted loads of recent stuff

all the articles im listing have been favoured in one folder for me to list, its just goes in order ive read or watched videos ive listed, this folder i still have around 490 articles / videos to list.
 
1,318 hate speech events in 2025, i.e., 4 every day on an average. 88% in BJP-ruled territories. 98% targeted Muslims. 97% shared on social media. The CSoH report confirms India’s accelerating descent into politics of hate.






@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @Devadwal @uppercut @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980 @Local.Dada @CrIc_Mystique @Van_Sri @nish_mate @SportsWarrior @kaayal
 
it doesn't its a article showing attacks by hindus on muslims, nothing changed under modi rule between 3 yrs.

if you look at the the indian minorities, indian muslims, indian dailts, indian christmas theads = ive posted loads of recent stuff

all the articles im listing have been favoured in one folder for me to list, its just goes in order ive read or watched videos ive listed, this folder i still have around 490 articles / videos to list.
It shows how pakistanis here support a section of Muslims who want to disrupt and stop Hindus from celebrating their festivals, this doesn’t work in a non muslim majority country, and
 
Why Muslims need to kill and eat cows only? Knowing it’s illegal, why are you interested in beef only?
India isn’t pp where you can insult religion and get away with it

Muslims eat lamb and chicken mostly in Pakistan so you are working off a false premise. Even then you avoided answering the question why is killing a cow (as opposed to a sheep) illegal in India when you want to claim it is a secular country.
 
It shows how pakistanis here support a section of Muslims who want to disrupt and stop Hindus from celebrating their festivals, this doesn’t work in a non muslim majority country, and
are you ok, cuz it seems you've gone full crazy - the articlei i posted - has nothing to do with what you've written.


Hows does the article at post 325- state a pakistani or muslims (on here) want to disrupt a hindu following thr festival.

are you struggling to read and comprehend - AGAIN
 

Hindu Woman In Bridal Attire, Muslim Man Found Hanging From Tree In UP: Cops​





However, family members of both denied having any knowledge of a romantic relationship between them.



Jhansi:
A Muslim man and an 18-year-old Hindu woman dressed in bridal attire were found hanging from a tree here on Saturday, with police suspecting that the duo took the extreme step after her marriage was fixed elsewhere.

However, family members of both denied having any knowledge of a romantic relationship between them.

The police said they are waiting for the post-mortem report, and the matter is being investigated from all angles, although no complaint has been received from either side so far.

The duo, Yazul (20) and Muskan, were residents of the Patti Kumharra village.

Station House Officer (SHO) Chirgaon police station Rahul Rathore said that villagers noticed the bodies hanging from a tree on the premises of an abandoned house.

The woman was found dressed in bridal attire, raising suspicion among locals that the duo were distressed over being unable to marry because of their different faiths.


Police sources said the man and the woman allegedly hanged themselves after her engagement was fixed elsewhere.



@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @Devadwal @uppercut @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980 @Local.Dada @CrIc_Mystique @Van_Sri @nish_mate @SportsWarrior @kaayal
 
No Whatsaboutery, No Dithering, No Point-Scoring, No Excuses:
  1. Any form of violence, harm, intimidation, or injustice against the life, property, honor, or dignity of a Hindu is absolutely unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned, whether it occurs in India, Pakistan, or anywhere else in the world. Such acts are morally reprehensible, legally criminal, and indefensible under any circumstance.​
  2. Any form of violence, harm, intimidation, or injustice against the life, property, honor, or dignity of a Muslim is absolutely unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned, whether it occurs in India, Pakistan, or anywhere else in the world. Such acts are morally reprehensible, legally criminal, and indefensible under any circumstance.​
  3. Any form of violence, harm, intimidation, or injustice against the life, property, honor, or dignity of anyone regardless of their religion, belief or creed is absolutely unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned, whether it occurs in India, Pakistan, or anywhere else in the world. Such acts are morally reprehensible, legally criminal, and indefensible under any circumstance.​
These individuals are lawful citizens of the state. Their life, honor, property, freedom of worship, and places of worship are explicitly protected under Islamic principles and enshrined in the Constitution. Any failure by Pakistan to uphold these obligations is a grave violation and deserves clear and unambiguous condemnation.

Likewise, these individuals are lawful citizens of the state. Their life, honor, property, freedom of worship, and places of worship are protected under the Constitution. Any failure by India to meet these constitutional obligations is a serious breach of duty and must be unequivocally condemned.

No matter the country, religion, or region, every human being deserves protection, dignity, and justice. Violence, discrimination, or intimidation against anyone is unacceptable...period.
 
How did he trap her? Watching that it seems she left her husband and kids to be with that guy, but maybe I misunderstood it.
Trapping her by telling stupid stories. Of course by abusing Hindu religion and brainwashing her into hating her own religion and family. Its all and fine as she is an adult capable of making her own decisions.

The issue is, he beat her and physically abused her. Did not feed her and tortured her. That is where the issue is. This is happening in India where supposedly Muslims are living on the edge due to Hindu oppression.

Now can a Hindu do the same to a Muslim girl in an Islamic nation? I wonder what the punishment would be. :mv
 
Trapping her by telling stupid stories. Of course by abusing Hindu religion and brainwashing her into hating her own religion and family. Its all and fine as she is an adult capable of making her own decisions.

The issue is, he beat her and physically abused her. Did not feed her and tortured her. That is where the issue is. This is happening in India where supposedly Muslims are living on the edge due to Hindu oppression.

Now can a Hindu do the same to a Muslim girl in an Islamic nation? I wonder what the punishment would be. :mv

A Muslim women would not leave her husband and kids to go galavanting with some unrelated person so this is a dumb take. That is the whole point of being a Muslim woman, husband and children are her priority, not finding new boyfriends.
 
Brother we can agree to disagree. I 100% agree - what happen to Mustafizur is not good. He has no fault in any of this and from outside he looks like a great guy. However, its a different story that you will never accept what is happening with Hindus in your country is very bad...even though British MPs have raised it in the House of Commons. Everyday we hear Hindus are getting killed and their festivals are attacked by goons of Yunus Govt. You will never condemn those and Bangladeshis who speak against them...you guys call them Dalal, Rajakar and Indian agent.

Bangladesh was fastest growing econony from Sub continent even couple of years ago. Your cricket team was flourishing. Due to people like you, it has become another Pakistan (aka cesspot).

Congrats bro...enjoy the WT20 from home.
Hindus are much better here than Muslims are in India. The false propaganda of Hindus being killed are a common cheap old Indian agenda which we don't care anymore. I invite you to visit Bangladesh . You will love the religious atmosphere.
 
Hindus are much better here than Muslims are in India. The false propaganda of Hindus being killed are a common cheap old Indian agenda which we don't care anymore. I invite you to visit Bangladesh . You will love the religious atmosphere.
Funny how green tinted you lot are. Lynching in India it's a a fundamental societal issue of Muslim persecution. Lynching in BD, it's an isolated issue not reflective our peaceful nature, false propaganda, we treat our Hindus with respect after we have fulfilled our lynching thirst.

Yawnnnnn
 
it is weird thing many hindu women marry out of their faith, there should be research regarding why its so common.
U r on right path to know the reason. Why only a specific minority religion( groomers in UK, jihadists in world etc) is after innocent other religion women in India , Pakistan ( via abduction) but no one else.
 
U r on right path to know the reason. Why only a specific minority religion( groomers in UK, jihadists in world etc) is after innocent other religion women in India , Pakistan ( via abduction) but no one else.
Was JD Vance wife also groomed do you think? Or Priti Patel, or Nikki Haley? Etc etc.

The trend is quite common.

Btw aren't Hindus famous for raping in India. I am sure more tourists have been gang raped by horny Hindus in India, than they have in any other country.

There is no need to try to deviate all the time Vikram Bhai. We can bring plenty of examples too brother if you want to go down these paths. Just today I saw a video of a woman who was molested by a Hindu on a bus. The Hindu commited suicide to avoid being caught. Other Hindus ganged up on the women asking her if she was happy for reporting him.
 
No Whatsaboutery, No Dithering, No Point-Scoring, No Excuses:
  1. Any form of violence, harm, intimidation, or injustice against the life, property, honor, or dignity of a Hindu is absolutely unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned, whether it occurs in India, Pakistan, or anywhere else in the world. Such acts are morally reprehensible, legally criminal, and indefensible under any circumstance.​
  2. Any form of violence, harm, intimidation, or injustice against the life, property, honor, or dignity of a Muslim is absolutely unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned, whether it occurs in India, Pakistan, or anywhere else in the world. Such acts are morally reprehensible, legally criminal, and indefensible under any circumstance.​
  3. Any form of violence, harm, intimidation, or injustice against the life, property, honor, or dignity of anyone regardless of their religion, belief or creed is absolutely unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned, whether it occurs in India, Pakistan, or anywhere else in the world. Such acts are morally reprehensible, legally criminal, and indefensible under any circumstance.​
These individuals are lawful citizens of the state. Their life, honor, property, freedom of worship, and places of worship are explicitly protected under Islamic principles and enshrined in the Constitution. Any failure by Pakistan to uphold these obligations is a grave violation and deserves clear and unambiguous condemnation.

Likewise, these individuals are lawful citizens of the state. Their life, honor, property, freedom of worship, and places of worship are protected under the Constitution. Any failure by India to meet these constitutional obligations is a serious breach of duty and must be unequivocally condemned.

No matter the country, religion, or region, every human being deserves protection, dignity, and justice. Violence, discrimination, or intimidation against anyone is unacceptable...period.
This is a good post. There is a lot of work to do. We are far behind the rest of the world..it is impossible to be a visible minority in most subcontinent countries

Fwiw I think Bangladesh was probably in the best position. Unfortunately this recent dip seems to be more of a conflation between politics and religious identity. I hope the situation gets back to normal and ordinary people can go back to viewing each other without suspicions.
 
Was JD Vance wife also groomed do you think? Or Priti Patel, or Nikki Haley? Etc etc.

.
As a pakistani , u may be shocked but in a multi religion system there are few inter religion marriages. They will survive due to love but here we are talking about preplanned cold attempt to convert the other party by deceiving them.

U can keep ur topic changing tactics in other threads or post there
 
Being an Indian female in love is wild, you’re not just choosing a husband, you’re gambling on whether Hindutva will let him stay alive.

Horrific.
 
YOU GUYS HAVE MADE A MESS HERE...

WATCH YOUR POSTS OR WILL TAKE SERIOUS ACTION NOW
 

Violence Against Muslims in India​



Summary+

Violence against Muslims in India is an issue rooted in historical tensions and political ideologies. This violence encompasses various forms, including communal riots, targeted attacks, and spontaneous assaults. Historical factors dating back to the Partition of British India in 1947 with unresolved territorial disputes, have contributed to ongoing hostilities. Hindu nationalism, propagated by groups like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has exacerbated religious divisions, with policies and rhetoric marginalizing Muslims and promoting a Hindu majoritarian agenda. The failure of law enforcement and justice systems to address violence against Muslims further creates social insecurity. Consequently, Muslims in India face economic and social exclusion, loss of life and injury, and destruction of property. Therefore, best practices include implementing comprehensive measures to address religion and political ideologies. Initiatives such as peace education programs are important in creating understanding among diverse communities.

Key Takeaways+

  • Constituting 14% of India's populace, Muslims are the largest religious minority, with around 200 million individuals.1
  • Anti-Muslim hate speech rose by 62% in the second half of 2023, averaging almost one incident per day, according to Washington-based research.2
  • Hindu nationalism cultivates exclusion, with surveys showing that 64% of Hindus believe being Hindu is crucial for Indian identity.3
  • Ninety percent of religion-based hate crimes between 2009 and 2019 occurred after the BJP party took power in 2014, with hate speech increasing nearly 500% from 2014 to 2018.4 BJP-led states witness 80% of hate speech gatherings targeting Muslims, with communal violence claiming over 10,000 lives since 1950.5 Cow protection mobs, predominantly in BJP-governed states, caused at least 44 deaths and 280 injuries between 2015 and 2018.6
  • Recent violence, like the 2023 Nuh clashes, led to 7 deaths and over 70 injuries, highlighting ongoing tensions.7 Seventy-nine percent of Indian Muslims fear further violence and government persecution, hindering their economic and social participation.8
  • India's situation stands out globally due to its significant Muslim population and the severity of violence, prompting attention from organizations like the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Key Terms+

Communal Violence—Non-state armed conflicts fought between two or more social groups.9

Hate Speech—Offensive discourse targeting a group or an individual based on inherent characteristics (such as race, religion, or gender) that may threaten social peace.10

Hegemony—Dominance of one group over another, often through legitimizing the dominant group’s norms and ideas.11

Majoritarianism—A traditional political philosophy that asserts that a majority (sometimes categorized by religion, language, social class, or some other identifying factor) of the population is entitled to a certain degree of primacy in society and has the right to make decisions that affect society.12

Plebiscite—The direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution.13

Saffronization—A process named after the color saffron that adorns Hindu nationalist symbols that involves imagining India as a Hindu nation, both by reconstructing an imaginary past defined by Hindu unity and by refashioning political institutions to reflect majoritarian ideals.14

Context​

Q: Who are India’s Muslims?​

Person with cane walking in front of mural

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo
A: Islam was introduced to India through Arab invasions of Sind in CE 712 and subsequent invasions in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, firmly establishing itself during the Mughal Empire in the sixteenth century.15 The majority of India's Muslim population descends from indigenous peoples, mainly lower castes who converted to Islam to escape persecution by caste Hindus.16

Currently, India is characterized by its religious, ethnic, and linguistic diversity and hosts a significant Muslim population, constituting approximately 14% of the total populace, making them the largest religious minority group in India.17 However, the Hindu majority comprises about 80% of the population.18 The predominant sect among Indian Muslims is Sunni Islam (55%), while 6% of Indian Muslims identify as Shia.19 Still, roughly a third of Indian Muslims say either that they have no sect (14%) or they do not know their Muslim sect (22%).20 Previous Pew Research Center surveys have found that substantial shares of Muslims in many countries do not provide a specific sect identity.21
India's Muslim communities are multifaceted, featuring variations in caste, ethnicity, language, and levels of political and economic influence.22 Apart from Kashmir, in which Muslims constitute a majority, Muslims are a minority throughout India.23 In other regions, they are concentrated in specific areas.24 The highest concentrations are observed in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Kerala.25 In northern India, Urdu is predominantly spoken by Muslim communities, although it is not recognized as an official language of India due to the absence of a distinct majority population in any area besides Kashmir.26

Q: What is religious violence, and what does it look like for India’s Muslims?​

A: Religious violence generally refers to harmful acts motivated by or in response to religious identity or beliefs.27 In public discourse, these harmful acts include government force, mob violence, property damage, and use or threat of violence to impose religious norms by non-state actors, or negative impact on religious sites, individuals, objects, or events.28
Both religion and violence are terms that are heavily disputed, as they can have sociological, psychological, and cultural significance beyond the obvious meaning.29,30 The term violence may encompass a range of acts, including physical force intended to hurt or kill someone, the enforcement of personal liberties, and aggressive verbal expressions.31,32 Additionally, the term religion likewise as a social abstraction encompasses a range of elements that generally includes narratives, beliefs, and sacred spaces and practices, among other things.33 The link between religious beliefs and behavior is challenging to define, as research indicates that religious ideas are as fragmented and context-dependent.34 For example, Hindu practice and belief is notably different in India than it is in the United States.35 Moreover, violence is frequently driven by ideological factors, and religion is one among various social and political influences, the relationship between which is a difficult sociological and philosophical task.36 For the purposes of this brief, we will define violence against Muslims in India in terms of acts of physical force that cause or are intended to cause harm, distinguished from aggression, a more general type of hostile behavior that may be physical, verbal, or passive in nature (though aggressive acts have a place in the conversation about violence).37 Religious violence has taken various forms throughout Indian history, often with severe consequences.

Q: What are different types of religious violence?​

A: Religious violence in India has included a spectrum of behaviors and events, but especially has manifested as communal riots, demolitions, mob violence, and lynching. Communal riots have resulted in widespread loss of lives and property.38 In addition to organized communal violence, targeted and planned attacks on religious minority communities have occurred. These attacks include incidents like the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition, a controversial event where a mosque was destroyed by Hindu nationalists followed by riots, which led to significant loss of life and communal polarization.38
Spontaneous assaults on individuals based on religious identity are also common. Instances of mob violence and lynching are particularly fueled by rumors of cow slaughter or interfaith relationships.40,41 One report given by Human Rights Watch delineates how members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) utilize communal rhetoric to incite a violent vigilante campaign against the consumption of beef and individuals involved in the cattle trade.42 Cows are sacred in the Hindu tradition, so calls for the protection of cows initially served as a tactic to garner Hindu votes, but they have since evolved into a license for mobs to violently assault and even kill members of minority groups.43 These assaults have instilled a pervasive sense of fear and insecurity within religious minority communities.44 The lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq by Hindu villagers in 2015 over allegations of consuming beef and the killing of Pehlu Khan in 2017 while transporting cattle are stark examples of this trend.45,46
Interfaith relationships have also been a cause for mob violence, particularly for those accused of "love jihad," leading to deaths and arrests of Muslims.47 Hindu nationalists propagate unfounded narratives about "love jihad," falsely accusing Muslims of systematically converting Hindu women to Islam, contributing to communal tensions and violence.48 Laws against "love jihad" disproportionately target Muslims and reinforce social taboos against interfaith marriage, leading to arrests, harassment, and social ostracization of couples. Out of the 17 cases filed under the anti-conversion law, 14 were related to relationships between Hindu women and Muslim men within the first year after the establishment of anti-conversion laws in 2020.49 Vigilantes employ violence, emotional blackmail, and manipulation to intimidate and coerce Hindu women into leaving their Muslim partners, often with the complicity of their families.50

Q: Who does religious violence affect in India?​

A: The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIR) reported that Christians, Muslims, and Sikhs are the minority religious communities most affected by religious violence but also identify Buddhists, Jains, Baha’is, Jews, and Zoroastrians as other minority groups affected.51
The USCIR in their 2023 report also recommended India for designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPCs) in persecuting religious minorities, the same as that of Iraq and Egypt.52 CPCs are countries where the government engages in or tolerates “particularly severe” violations of religious freedom, specifically meaning systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations which includes torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; prolonged detention without charges; causing the disappearance of persons by the abduction or clandestine detention of those persons; or other flagrant denial of the right to life, liberty, or the security of persons.” For India specifically, the violation of religious freedom has meant the “harassment, intimidation, and violence largely at the hands of members of Hindu nationalist groups,” tacitly government support of non-state actors by means of religiously divisive language that inflames these groups against minority religious groups, and national and state government implemented laws that restrict religious conversion from Hinduism and cow slaughter (approximately one-third of state governments enforce anti-conversion or anti-cattle slaughter laws against non-Hindus).53,54 In a report from 2018, the USCIRF accused Hindu nationalist groups of attempting to saffronize India by employing violence, intimidation, and harassment against non-Hindus.55
As mentioned earlier, Muslims constitute the largest minority group in India, comprising 14% of the population, followed by Christians at 2.3%, Sikhs at 1.7%, and various other groups collectively comprising less than 1%.56 With approximately 200 million Muslims, India harbors one of the world's largest Muslim populations.57 Despite their significant presence, Muslims continue to face disproportionate targeting, rendering them one of the most vulnerable religious minorities in India. Anti-Muslim hate speech in India rose by 62% in the second half of 2023 compared to the first six months of the year, a Washington-based research group reported in 2024, adding the Israel-Gaza war played a key role in the last three months. India Hate Lab documented 668 hate speech events targeting Muslims in 2023, 36% of which included direct calls for violence.58 This frequency of Hindu nationalist groups and actors engaging in hate speech, averaging almost two events per day, underscores the prevalence of anti-Muslim sentiment and the urgent need for effective measures to combat religious discrimination and violence targeting minority communities in India.
Religious group prevalence in India pie chart

Q: When did violence against Muslims begin?​

A: Violence against Muslims in India has deep historical roots, and its origins can be traced back to the late 12th century, during which time Hindus held resentment toward the Islamic conquest of India and the Muslim Mogul masters.59 These tensions transformed during the British colonial period, also called pre-independence times spanning between 1857 and 1957, because of divisive policies established by the colonial government during the period of British rule.60 Some historians argue that the British strategy of 'divide and rule' amplified religious divisions to maintain their imperial control.61 Others will go so far as to say that the very identities of Hindus and Muslims in the region were shaped by British influence, leading to the long-lasting conflict.62
While these tensions existed before India was a part of the British empire and grew during the time of its rule, the impetus of violence against Muslims was during Partition in 1947.63 The British found themselves economically devastated by World War II and unable to support their empire.64 Thus, Britain began the process of withdrawing from the Indian subcontinent, during which time the Indian National Congress advocated for independence and the All-India Muslim League demanded a separate nation for Muslims.65 A judge decided the borders for a Hindu-majority India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan.66 The hasty Partition sparked widespread violence and mass migrations, which included riots, fires, and mass murders on the streets.67 There are survivor records of blood-soaked trains carrying refugees from between the newly independent countries of Pakistan and India, towns burned to the ground, and bodies thrown in the streets.68 Historians estimate that between 200,000 and 2 million people were killed. The communal violence, marked by atrocities on both Hindus and Muslims, resulted in a tragic and turbulent separation that set the stage for ongoing hostilities.70 It is unclear, however, the cause for the intense communal violence during the Partition, and some scholars will point to the divisive policies created by the British.71
Directly following the Partition was the post-independence conflict between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir region, which became a focal point of violence against Muslims. The complex and unresolved territorial dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir has led to sporadic outbreaks of violence, with both sides accusing the other of human rights abuses.72,73 Although the United Nations and Pakistan call for a plebiscite to determine the status of Kashmir, India continually rejects a plebiscite. This refusal contributes to a sense of disenchantment among the Muslim population in the region because it undermines their aspirations for self-determination, leading to heightened grievances and discontentment with the political process.74
Since the Partition of 1947 and the conflicts following, there has been a deep-rooted distrust between Pakistan and India.75 Moreover, Partition itself was intended to create geographic divisions between Hindus and Muslims, so we see patterns of distrust and hatred for Pakistan projected onto Indian Muslims. Extremists perpetuate the belief that Indian Muslims, especially since Partition, are aligned with Pakistan and potentially radicalized. As one very public example, in a speech by the VHP general secretary, a notable Hindu nationalist said the region was “Hindu land” and referred to Muslims variously as Pakistani spies.76 The long history of conflict between Muslims and Hindus, tracing back to the Islamic conquest of India, Partition violence, and subsequent territorial conflict all contribute to the ongoing violence against Muslims in India.

Q: Where is violence against Muslims happening?​

A: Violence against Muslims has been reported in several parts of the world. The United Nations (UN) has declared Islamophobia a global epidemic.77 However, the level of severity varies from country to country. In Myanmar, the Rohingya Muslim minority has faced severe persecution, leading to widespread displacement and refugee crises, with documented instances of human rights abuses.78 Allegations of mass detentions, religious suppression, and human rights abuses have been made against the Chinese government concerning the Uighur Muslim minority in Xinjiang.79 The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has also seen periods of violence affecting Muslim populations, notably in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.80 In the Central African Republic, sectarian violence between Christian and Muslim communities has led to displacement and human rights abuses, including violence against Muslims.81 The conflicts in Syria and Iraq have resulted in violence against various religious and ethnic groups, including Muslims.82,83
India is home to the largest Muslim population that exists as a religious minority. The largest Muslim population resides in Pakistan, with 240.8 million Muslims making up 96% of the population.84 Indonesia houses the second largest population of 236 million Muslims, making up 84% of its population. Although India has 200 million Muslims, the fact that they only make up 14% of the population means that India has the largest Muslim population facing systematic religious violence in the world. 85
Religious violence and discrimination against Muslims in India have drawn the attention of outside organizations and Muslim-majority countries who have complained against India. The UN Human Rights office said certain policies passed in the last decade, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act, as “fundamentally discriminatory.”86 Iran, Kuwait, and Qatar were among the Muslim-majority countries that lodged formal complaints against India in 2022 over public officials’ Islamaphobic remarks.87 The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a group of 57 member states, called on India to curb the “growing spate of hatred and defamation of Islam” and “systematic practices against Indian Muslims.”88

Contributing Factors​

Hindu Nationalism​

Hindu nationalism was first articulated in the 1920s by author and politician V. D. Savarkar in his book Hindutva: Who Is a Hindu? Hindu nationalists hold that Hindus are the “true sons of Indian soil,” because their holy lands are in India, whereas the Christian and Muslim holy lands are outside it.89,90 This belief is the foundation of a political ideology called Hindutva, encompassing the cultural justification of Hindu nationalism and the belief in establishing Hindu hegemony within India.91 This ideology causes religious violence by cultivating a sense of exclusivity and superiority among Hindu nationalists, leading to discrimination and hostility towards religious minorities perceived as outsiders. Unlike nationalism, which is based on the premise that the individual’s loyalty and devotion to the nation-state surpasses other individual or group interests, Hindu nationalism is inextricably linked to the proposition that this loyalty to the nation-state of India entails Hindu religious affiliation.92
Indian flag waving in the wind

Photo by Naveed Ahmed
One survey found that a majority of Hindus tend to see their religious identity and Indian national identity as closely intertwined, with nearly two-thirds (64%) saying it is “very important to be Hindu to be ‘truly’ Indian.”93 Of those who share that view, 80% also said it is equally important to speak Hindi—one of India’s two official languages, but just 1 of 22 constitutionally recognized languages—to be authentically Indian. Another report issued by India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development found that the training for teachers in one major school foundation, Ekal, was “mainly to spread communal disharmony in the communities and also to inculcate a fundamentalist political ideology…creating enmity amongst communities on the basis of religion.”94
Hindu nationalists justify violence by citing India's historical subjugation by Muslims. The creation of Pakistan as an Islamic Republic has posed severe problems to Indian Muslims. While the partition reduced the percentage of Muslims in India (at the time) from 25% to 10%, the aftermath resulted in Hindu nationalists portraying Muslims as anti-national and traitors.95 They believe that Indian Muslims, especially since Partition, are aligned with Pakistan and potentially radicalized. As one very public example, in a speech by the VHP general secretary, a notable Hindu nationalist said the region was “Hindu land” and referred to Muslims variously as “cow slaughterers,” “Hindu murderers,” “Bangladeshi intruders,” and Pakistani spies.96 Thus, the intertwining of religious and national identities in Hindu nationalism not only encourages exclusionary attitudes towards religious minorities but also serves as a justification for violence, perpetuating historical grievances and deepening divisions within Indian society.

BJP Political Party​

Another major factor for the rising tide of violence against Muslims in India is the proliferation of Hindu nationalist parties. There has been an increase in anti-Muslim sentiments during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure and under the governance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has embraced a Hindu nationalist agenda since coming into power in 2014.97 The BJP party's Hindutva ideology, centered around the establishment of a strong Hindu state, envisions a society where individuals of other religious traditions are tolerated but are relegated to second-class status.98 They generally champion policies intended to make India a Hindu state, in which the Hindu population is entitled to a certain degree of primacy in society and has the right to make decisions that affect the society.99 Many Hindu nationalists, then, see Indian Muslims as suspect foreigners, despite the fact that most are descendants of Hindus who converted to Islam.100
Following Modi's reelection in 2019, the government has implemented contentious policies that disregard the rights of Muslims and aim to marginalize millions of them, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act, which allows quicker citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants from nearby countries.101 Additionally, under BJP government legislation, India has 12 states in which anti-conversion legislation has been passed with these three restrictions in common: prohibitions on conversions, notification requirements to the government, and burden-shifting provisions that automatically presume guilt.102 The law aims to prevent women from converting when they marry outside their faith, particularly keeping Hindu women from marrying Muslim men.103 They have also resulted in prison terms and fines for violations, with enhanced penalties for converting minors, women, or individuals from Scheduled Castes or Tribes, or for mass conversions.104
Violence against Muslims has escalated under Modi's leadership, prompting protests within India and drawing criticism from the international community.105 Data cited in the report from an Indian organization that tracks reports of violence found that as many as 90% of religion-based hate crimes between 2009 and 2019 occurred after Mr. Modi took office in 2014.106 Additionally, there has been a significant surge in explicitly anti-Muslim rhetoric, frequently escalating to hate speech, particularly evident across various social media platforms.107 According to a survey from NDTV cited by Human Rights Watch, “communally divisive language” in speeches by elected officials shot up nearly 500% between 2014 and 2018, compared with the 5 years before the BJP came to power. Ninety percent of those speeches were from the BJP.108 There were 255 documented cases of hate speech gatherings targeting Muslims in the first half of 2023, averaging 1 a day, 80% of which took place in states governed by the BJP, which is far higher than in previous years.109
90% of religion-based hate crimes between 2009 and 2019 occurred after Mr. Modi took office in 2014.

Over the span of several decades, BJP has been linked to numerous Hindu-Muslim riots, numbering in the hundreds, with the most recent one occurring in Delhi in February 2020, resulting in the loss of 54 lives.110 In 2021, Pooja Shakun Pandey, a Hindu nationalist leader urged his followers to “be ready to kill” millions of Indian Muslims, a call that BJP President Modi did not rebuke.111 Watchdog groups, including Genocide Watch and Early Warning (a project of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum) caution that signs of genocide have already manifested in India.112

Neglect of Law Enforcement and Justice Systems​

The failure of law enforcement and justice systems to adequately address violence against Muslims in India manifests in several ways. The first is that law enforcement agencies fail to provide adequate protection to Muslim communities facing threats or violence from extremist groups or individuals. A 2019 report released by Common Cause, an India-based non-governmental organization, revealed that 50% of surveyed police officers exhibited biases against Muslims, leading to a reduced likelihood of intervening in crimes targeting this community.113 This bias results in a sense of insecurity and fear among Muslims, leading to underreporting of incidents and a lack of trust in law enforcement authorities.114
In many cases, perpetrators of violence against Muslims may go unpunished due to political influence, corruption, or bias within the justice system. BJP leaders have embedded prejudices into government agencies and formerly independent institutions, such as the police, institutionalizing impunity and thereby further empowering supporters of the BJP to threaten, harass, and attack religious minorities.115 Recent instances indicate that courts and governmental entities continue to overturn convictions or drop cases implicating Hindus in attacks against Muslims.116 These cases include the acquittal of Maya Kodnani, a senior BJP member, and her co-accused in the 2002 Gujarat riots case, where 97 people were killed.117 The prosecution's lack of effort was evident. This decision has upset Muslim victims seeking justice. Additionally, in the same month, those accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast, resulting in 9 deaths, were also acquitted.118
In cases against activists, of the 1,153 people against whom rioting charges have been filed in court, 571 are Hindu and 582 Muslim, which is disproportionate to the population percentages of each group (Hindus constitute 79.8% of the population; Muslims, 14.2%; Christians, 2.3%; and Sikhs, 1.7%).119,120 Additionally, the police have focused more on investigating allegations against Muslims and arresting them.121 Muslim victims of abuses and witnesses said that the police initially turned them away, refusing to file their complaints and that even when police filed the cases based on their accounts, they omitted names of BJP leaders or police officials allegedly complicit in the attacks.122

Consequences​

Loss of Life and Injury​

The loss of life and injury resulting from violence against Muslims in India is perhaps the most serious consequence. When violence occurs, individuals may suffer injuries, sometimes severe, or even lose their lives. Over 10,000 people have been killed in Hindu-Muslim communal violence since 1950.123
These instances of communal violence in the last couple of decades have included the Gujarat Riots in 2002, during which Hindu mobs in Gujarat raped, looted, and killed in a spasm of violence that persisted for more than two months.124 Women were mutilated, children set afire, and fathers hacked to pieces. About 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed. Some 20,000 Muslim homes and businesses and 360 places of worship were destroyed, and roughly 150,000 people were displaced.125 Another significant instance of communal violence was the Muzaffarnagar Riots in 2013, which consisted of a series of clashes between Hindus and Muslims leading to over 60 deaths after two Hindu men died in a fight with Muslim men.126
Cow Protection Mobs have been significant occasions of death and injuries. These mobs were part of a larger vigilante campaign against beef consumption and those thought linked to it since Hindus consider cows to be sacred. The attacks were led by people who claimed to be affiliated with militant Hindu groups that often have ties to the BJP. Between May 2015 and December 2018 (the first few years following the election of Mr. Modi), at least 44 people, 36 of them Muslims, were killed across 12 Indian states. Over that same period, around 280 people were injured in over 100 different incidents across 20 states.127
In the New Delhi Clashes of 2020, violence erupted between Muslims and Hindus during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, resulting in around 50 deaths, 38 of whom were Muslims. In terms of the most recent incidents of violence, in August of 2023, seven people died and over 70 were injured in violence in the Nuh region of Haryana. Additionally, in the Haldwani violence incident on February 8, 2024, at least six people were killed, including five Muslims. Over two dozen civilians and more than 100 police personnel were injured in clashes involving mob violence and police firing.128

Insecurity in Economic and Social Participation​

One+survey+found+that+79%25+of+India%E2%80%99s+Muslims+fear+not+only+more+violence+but+also+continued+government+persecution.+%281920+x+540+px%29+%281%29.jpg

Insecurity in Muslim communities in India, stemming from violence, encompasses a pervasive sense of fear, vulnerability, and mistrust. This atmosphere of insecurity permeates many aspects of Muslim public life, including clothing, speech, and social and commercial involvement, contributing to psychological distress and strain on familial and social relationships. Muslims often live in constant fear of further attacks, leading to heightened anxiety and stress. One survey found that 79% of India’s Muslims fear not only more violence but also continued government persecution.129
In areas where violence occurs, movement is restricted, impacting daily routines and opportunities for economic participation. Muslims have the lowest share of working people, about 33%, among all religious communities in India.130 Of this group, as high as 46% are self-employed in urban India, the largest as compared with any other community, according to data from the government’s National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) in 2013.131 The report adds that Muslims are the poorest among all religious groups in India and are concentrated in low-paying jobs in the informal sector.132 The informal sector of the economy consists of activities that have market value but are not formally registered.133 Religious violence often creates or exacerbates these economic disparities, as Muslims, as a marginalized community, face increased barriers to economic advancement due to restricted movement and discrimination.
In addition to the restriction of economic participation, this sense of fear of violence means a loss of social participation as well. For example, Muslims less frequently give each other greetings in Arabic or openly eat halal meat for fear of being identified as Muslims.134 There has also been a backlash against women wearing the hijab, who have had their veils removed and destroyed in front of them, and men wearing Khamis, the religious clothing of Muslim men.135 In 2022, a school in the state of Karnataka officially banned Muslim girls from wearing the hijab.136 The school’s ban, later affirmed by the state government, set off violence that spread to other schools in the state, prompting the government to close down schools for days.137 This situation led to students dropping out of school for fear of the repercussions of wearing religious clothing. For instance, a PUCL report states that 1,000 female students had dropped out amid the hijab controversy in Karnataka colleges.138 The fear of violence not only restricts economic participation but also erodes social engagement, as evidenced by diminished cultural expressions and discriminatory actions against religious attire, ultimately leading to educational disruptions and dropouts.

Destruction of Property​

Property damage is also a significant consequence of violence against Muslims in India. Homes, businesses, and places of worship belonging to Muslim communities have been targeted, leading to destruction and financial loss. Governments led by the BJP have conducted demolitions primarily targeting properties belonging to Muslims after communal riots incited by Hindu extremists in four states.139 These properties have included homes in Muslim neighborhoods, mosques, or Muslim-owned businesses. These demolitions occur primarily in states under BJP rule, but they are especially of concern in Muslim-majority areas.
House being demolished with a crane

Photo by Vincenzo Cassano
It is a common occurrence, as one example, that local authorities are bulldozing shops and homes in Jahangirpuri, a majority Muslim area.140 During April and May of 2022 alone, Amnesty International documented 128 demolitions in 5 Indian states between April and May 2022.141 The justification for the demolitions is the claim that the buildings subjected to demolition did not possess the requisite permits or that the buildings are encroaching onto the roads.142,143 However, the demolitions have disregarded landmark Supreme Court judgments, including those ruling that evictions and demolitions must follow clear rules and procedures, include meaningful consultation, and be consistent with the rights of life and dignity.144 Various laws and procedures in India mandate that residents or property owners must be given notice and an opportunity to defend themselves before demolitions take place, which was not followed in many cases.145

Practices​

Education​

In 2018 and 2019, the United States organized the Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief, which assembled a virtual gathering of nations and civil society activists worldwide. Nations ranging from Bangladesh, Bahrain, to Germany, spoke on the significance of education during the ministerial. Additionally, some delegates referenced the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4, which emphasizes the necessity of providing inclusive and fair education opportunities for all, and Goal 16, which advocates for creating peaceful and inclusive societies with accountable and inclusive institutions at every level. Other global organizations also point to education as crucial for conflict prevention and resolution.146 A growing agreement identifies that education is a long-term solution to resolve religious violence by promoting human rights, pluralism, and respect for diverse beliefs.147
Children at school

Photo by Jaikishan Patel
In addressing religious violence against Muslims in India specifically, there are several organizations that are working to resolve violence and conflict that also recommend education.148 Organizations such as the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR), United Religions Initiative (URI) India, Interfaith Coalition for Peace (ICP), Plural India Foundation, and Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS) are a few among many organizations that recommend education as the best practice to help resolve the violence in India.149,150,151
One significant educational program among these organizations is the Peace Education program initiated by the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) in Jammu and Kashmir, two states in India.152 The initiative was born as a result of a series of dialogues held with women and educationists in Jammu and Kashmir who recognized the impact of violence on children growing up in conflict-affected regions.153 CDR collaborated with local educationists to develop a curriculum focused on training school teachers in conflict resolution and peacebuilding tailored to local needs.154 The program does not seek to directly resolve religious tensions but rather aspires to empower children to alter the course of intergenerational conflict. Young minds are susceptible to hateful ideologies, making education about pluralism essential to counter violence in the long term.155
The curriculum, comprising five themes including Communication, Differing Viewpoints, Diversity & Discrimination, Understanding Conflict, and Individuals Can Make a Difference, emphasizes constructive conflict resolution strategies and challenges zero-sum notions of conflict.156 The methodology employed is student-centered, utilizing various teaching methods such as group work, classroom discussions, and role-play to facilitate active learning and engagement.157 Over a 3-year period from 2004–2006, the program reached 58 schools, trained 114 teachers, and impacted approximately 3420 students in Jammu and Kashmir, illustrating its reach in peace education in conflict-affected regions.158
Building on this model, educational initiatives across India can integrate peace education into the curriculum and teacher training programs. By empowering educators with the knowledge and skills to create inclusive learning environments and equipping students with the tools to navigate conflict constructively, such initiatives contribute to building a more peaceful Indian society. Through ongoing monitoring and evaluation, these initiatives can adapt strategies and address emerging challenges, ultimately creating a culture of peace and mutual respect in Indian society.

Gaps​

While the Peace Education program pioneered by the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) in Jammu and Kashmir presents a promising initiative to address religious violence in India given the outputs of their program (how many teachers they have hired, students taught, and schools reached), there are no statistics to indicate any measurable impact. Because these programs are being implemented right now in schools, the impact may remain to be seen for a long time. Robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are imperative to measure outcomes and identify areas for improvement that are necessary for long-term conflict prevention.
Additionally, its impact may be constrained by limited geographical coverage and scalability, necessitating efforts to expand its reach to other conflict-affected regions across the country.159 Sustainability remains a concern, with the program potentially reliant on external funding and lacking long-term support from local stakeholders and government bodies. To enhance inclusivity and representation, the curriculum development process should involve diverse community members, including religious leaders, to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
To improve the program, collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organizations can facilitate its expansion beyond Jammu and Kashmir, while ongoing training for educators will enhance their capacity to deliver peace education effectively. Greater community engagement and ownership can be fostered through the establishment of advisory committees or community-based organizations. Advocacy efforts should focus on integrating peace education into formal education systems at the state and national levels, while partnerships with other institutions and organizations can leverage resources and promote coordinated efforts in promoting peace education and conflict resolution initiatives nationwide.



Source:



@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @Devadwal @uppercut @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980 @Local.Dada @CrIc_Mystique @Van_Sri @nish_mate @SportsWarrior @kaayal
 
Back
Top