IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (April 3, 2026)
This Week at a Glance
This week, the Freedom in the World 2026 report flagged India’s continued democratic decline, while an international panel said crimes against Muslims in Assam and Uttar Pradesh may amount to apartheid, and a U.S. government report termed social media takedown orders by Indian authorities “politically motivated.” On the ground, a Muslim woman in Bihar died by suicide along with her two children after her husband’s lynching and subsequent threats; Ram Navami processions across several states saw anti-Muslim slogans and attacks, alongside separate assaults in Madhubani and Bareilly. Additional incidents included a disputed “encounter” killing in Kashmir’s Ganderbal, demolition of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur, a threat against “Miyas” by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, suspension of a professor for calling a Muslim student a “terrorist,” and an attack on a Muslim-owned eatery in Haryana by Hindu extremist groups.
Top Stories
India’s Democratic Decline Deepens, Report Warns
India’s status as “Partly Free” has further deteriorated over the past year according to Freedom House’s 2026 Freedom in the World Report, with India’s score dropping to 62 amid rising concerns over civil liberties and political rights. The report highlights growing harassment of journalists, minorities, and opposition figures, alongside increasing restrictions on free expression and due process, signalling a sustained erosion of democratic safeguards under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Panel concludes crimes against Muslims in Assam, UP amount to persecution, apartheid, preparation for ethnic cleansing
Three eminent international law and human rights experts have found that crimes against Muslims in the states of Assam and Uttar Pradesh may amount to apartheid as a crime against humanity, involving inhumane acts committed within an institutionalised regime of systematic oppression and domination over a racialised group. The Panel is calling on the UN Human Rights Council to immediately mandate an independent fact-finding body to preserve evidence for future accountability.
(The Wire)
US Govt Report Says Indian Authorities’ Takedown Orders to US Social Media Firms ‘Politically Motivated’
A United States government report has said that takedown orders issued to US social media firms by Indian authorities appear to be “politically motivated”. The report’s spotlight on the IT Rules comes at a time when Indian online spaces are rife with criticism of the Narendra Modi government’s takedown orders.
Muslim woman dies by suicide with two children after husband’s lynching, threats
A Muslim woman in Bihar’s Rohtas district allegedly died by suicide after consuming poison along with her four-year-old daughter and one and half-year-old son, reportedly unable to cope with the trauma of her husband’s lynching and subsequent threats from the accused. The incident comes just days after the killing of her husband, Hasan Raza Khan, who was beaten to death in public view on a state highway.
(Meer Faisal)
Ram Navami Processions Marked by Anti-Muslim Violence and Targeted Attacks Across India
Ram Navami processions across several parts of India, widely circulated online, have shown provocative slogans, anti-Muslim displays, and targeted actions against Muslims and places of worship. Meanwhile, a Muslim woman in Bihar’s Madhubani died days after she was assaulted by a group of villagers and a Muslim youth in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly was assaulted, humiliated, and forced to chant Hindu slogans
Hate crimes and discrimination in India
This week, in Kashmir’s Ganderbal, the family of Rashid Ahmad Mughal disputed the Army’s claim that he was a militant killed in an encounter; in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur, a mosque was demolished following a court order, reigniting concerns over bulldozer actions. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma faced backlash for threatening to “break the backbone” of “Miyas,” while in Karnataka, a University professor was suspended for repeatedly calling a Muslim student a “terrorist,” and in Uttar Pradesh, a postgraduate alleged religious bias after being rejected from a government lab interview within minutes. Meanwhile, in Haryana’s Kurukshetra, Hindu extremist groups attacked a Muslim-owned eatery over its name, vandalizing property and chanting religious slogans as police reportedly failed to intervene.
Resistance & Organizing
Centre Puts FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 on Hold After Opposition Protests
Amid mounting Opposition pressure, the federal government decided to put the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act Amendment Bill, 2026 on hold in Parliament, following protests. The Bill, which proposes changes to the FCRA, had triggered a political storm over concerns that it would increase government control over non-governmental organisations and foreign funding.
CPI(M) West Bengal forms legal teams for deleted voters
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) West Bengal said it has formed teams of lawyers and volunteers to assist voters whose names have been struck off the electoral rolls. “At all 19 tribunals, teams of Left-leaning lawyers and Red Volunteers have been formed to provide legal help to voters. We will share phone numbers of legal activists and volunteers on social media platforms so that no one has to incur extra cost to protect their right to vote,” The Telegraph quoted CPM state secretary Md Salim as saying.
Opposition lawmakers write to federal govt raising concern over CBFC denial of “The Voice of Hind Rajab”
Opposition lawmakers have written a joint letter to Federal Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, raising concerns over the reported denial of certification to the film “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), stating that the matter has significant implications for artistic freedom, institutional credibility, and India’s standing as a society committed to democratic values and cultural openness.
Defenders of the Week
This week, we’re featuring Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of Alt News, for continuing to document communal violence and disinformation despite mounting state pressure. Recently, the Indian government ordered platform X to block some of his posts after he shared videos of violence during Ram Navami processions. This follows a longer pattern of legal harassment, including his 2022 arrest over a tweet, widely seen as retaliation for exposing hate speech. Yet Zubair has remained one of the most consistent voices tracking and countering majoritarian misinformation in India.
Voices from the Ground
“The draft IT rules are proof that the govt is allergic to free press. If notified, these rules will allow the govt to ban any independent journalist’s online content. Indians heavily rely on independent journalists for news that affects them, things that mainstream channels or publications do not necessarily cover. Without independent journalists, there’s no way of knowing if a “toolkit” is being used to spread fake news or not.
We have a fundamental right to information, and a right against misinformation and disinformation.”
– Asaduddin Owaisi MP, AIMIM chief
IAMC in Action
- Alhamdulillah, IAMC is proud to announce that our Associate Media Director, Safa Ahmed, has authored Yaqeen Institute’s first-ever paper on Hindutva and its impact on Muslims both in India and beyond, covering all of these topics and more. Titled “Hindutva and Anti-Muslim Violence: How to Navigate Hindu Supremacy,” the paper raises awareness of this growing threat and equips Muslims with the knowledge needed to inspire meaningful, faith-driven action in response.
What to Watch Next Week
- Our upcoming episode of Beyond the Taj will feature a conversation with writer and journalist Tom Verde, who will be joining us to share the stories of two historic Indian Muslim queens. Follow Beyond the Taj on Spotify and Apple, and subscribe to IAMC’s YouTube channel so you don’t miss it!
