Systematic Discrimination and Persecution

Muslims in India have never truly enjoyed their human rights under the current extreme Indian government led by the far-right Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which advocates Hindu nationalism. Amid ongoing discussions by human rights organizations about the decline in minority rights in the country, acts of persecution and discrimination against Muslims, in particular, continue unabated. This is a clear challenge from the Indian government to all agreements and laws, and a determination to violate the rights of Muslims and restrict them in various ways.

A Week of Tragedy and Tensions

The past week in India may have been the most difficult concerning its rapid and dangerous events. Muslims have not been able to live peacefully like other citizens but have instead suffered from racial incidents that carry serious implications in light of the growing incidents of religious discrimination against them.

Let us briefly review these incidents that took place in some Indian states over the past week to understand the magnitude of the tragedy facing our brothers in India and to shed light on the systematic and harsh campaigns of persecution they are experiencing.

Clashes Over Mosque Sanctity

The first event involved a celebratory procession of Hindus after the Indian cricket team's victory in the World Cup turning into violent clashes with Muslims due to provocations from the Hindus during their celebration in front of a mosque in the town of Mahu, located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

These provocations included throwing fireworks at the mosque while the procession passed by, coinciding with the exit of Muslims from the mosque after the Tarawih prayer. According to local media reports, this resulted in six individuals being injured, around 12 cars being burned, and many shops being damaged.

Tragic Death of a Muslim Infant

The second event experienced by a Muslim family in India is equally tragic, if not more so, due to the cruel and painful details involved. A group of Indian police officers stormed the home of Muslim citizen Imran Khan in the Alwar area of Rajasthan to conduct a raid related to an alleged cybercrime in a fabricated case against him. When the police left the house, Imran and his wife discovered that members of the police force had crushed their sleeping infant daughter, who was in her crib next to her father's bed.

Imran stated that when he returned to the room where the child was, he found her dead, with marks of the police's feet visible on her body and face, despite the accusation against him in a cybercrime case, even though he did not own a smartphone. The father of the murdered girl mentioned that when he wanted to file a complaint with the authorities in his state regarding the incident of his daughter's murder, the local police showed no interest in the matter. However, after the girl's family and the villagers protested in front of the house of the general supervisor of the "Alor" area police, an initial report was filed against two members of the police force that raided the house, on charges of murder.

Attempt to Storm a Mosque

The third incident in this difficult week involved a large crowd of extremist Hindus attempting to storm a mosque in the town of "Rajapur" in the Indian state of Maharashtra, located in the west of the country, during the celebrations of a Hindu festival called "Holi."

According to eyewitness accounts of this tragic incident, a massive mob of around 1,500 Hindus attempted to storm the mosque during the celebration of this festival, but Muslims formed human shields and managed to prevent them from entering the mosque. It is worth noting that the Hindus attempted to intrude into the mosque by introducing a religious symbol specific to them, aiming to provoke communal tensions in the state by antagonizing Muslims, especially since this attack occurred while Muslims were performing Tarawih prayers there. The locals requested that the police provide protection to prevent such provocations during the festivities, but the police were unable to handle the large and unprecedented crowds.

Ban on Friday Prayers

The fourth and final event of this tragic week was the authorities in Uttar Pradesh—India’s largest state by population—requesting the Muslim minority not to attend the mosque for Friday prayers this week due to the celebration of the Hindu festival "Holi"!

The State’s Chief minister, known for his anti-Muslim policies, stated in press remarks: "Prayers are held every Friday, but the Holi festival comes only once a year, so Friday prayers can be postponed. Those Muslims who wish to perform it can do so at home!"

Thus, last week passed for our brothers among the Muslims of India, as these incidents fall within the ongoing violation of their most basic rights guaranteed to them by the constitution and local and international laws. However, they are practices of extreme Hindus against Muslims, which go unchecked under this government that sees Muslims as an adversary that must be eliminated over time.