IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (August 22, 2025)

This Week at a Glance 

India’s 79th Independence Day was overshadowed by Indian opposition parties producing what they say is extensive evidence that the BJP and Election Commission of India (ECI) systematically deleting minorities from voter rolls and manipulating elections. Authorities deported a pregnant woman to Bangladesh, separating her from her 4-year-old daughter, while anti-Muslim violence, including assaults, discriminatory school plays, and attacks on migrant workers were reported across the country. Courts acquitted Muslim men in flawed terror and riot cases, even as hate crimes and religious discrimination continue across multiple states. On the US front, IAMC hosted a Congressional Briefing featuring Congress Party spokesperson Pawan Khera and senior Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Hegde, who spoke on the shocking accusations of vote theft in Indian elections, as well as on the illegal deportations of Bengali-speaking Muslims from Assam. 

Top Stories

Image: PTI

India’s Opposition Accuses BJP and ECI of “Organized Deletion” of Minority Voters, Election Manipulation

At a U.S.-based Congressional briefing, India’s opposition Congress Party alleged that the ruling BJP is colluding with the Election Commission to carry out “organized deletion” of Muslims, Dalits, and other marginalized voters, effectively stealing votes and subverting Indian democracy. The accusations come amid the discovery of mass voter roll irregularities in Bihar and Karnataka, with Congress leaders warning that millions face disenfranchisement, loss of rights, and even citizenship due to such manipulations.

Image: Shaheen Abdulla/ Maktoob

Pregnant Indian Muslim Woman and Family Deported to Bangladesh, Separates Parents from 4-Year-Old Child

Indian authorities deported two Muslim families to Bangladesh despite their claims of Indian citizenship. Eight-months pregnant Sunali Bibi, her husband, and her children were all deported – except for one 4-year-old daughter, who was left behind in West Bengal. Rights groups say the expulsions reflect a growing pattern of arbitrary detentions and deportations targeting Bengali-speaking Muslims. 

India’s Independence Day Marred by Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes and Islamophobia

On India’s 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Hindu militant group RSS for “100 years of service”, while BJP Chief Ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Pushkar Singh Dhami invoked tropes of “infiltrators,” “love jihad,” and “land jihad” in their speeches. Meanwhile, Muslims across the country faced humiliation and violence. In Uttarakhand, a Muslim railway worker was beaten and forced to chant Hindu slogans; in Gujarat, a school staged an Independence Day play depicting burqa-clad girls as terrorists; and in Surat, a Muslim migrant worker was brutally attacked and later denied urgent hospital admission. 

Mumbai Mosque’s Shops Demolished Amid Claims of Political Pressure

Authorities in Mumbai demolished 13 shops belonging to the Noor Elahi Mosque, despite local opposition and intervention from a lawmaker, with officials citing “pressure from above.” The trustees allege the demolition, carried out under heavy police presence, is part of a broader campaign to target Muslim-owned properties.

Muslim Flood-Relief Efforts Branded as “Biryani Jihad” in Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad, Hindu extremist groups labeled food aid by village head Mohammad Shami as “biryani jihad,” leading to arrests of his family members. Locals say the charges are politically motivated, targeting a leader known for aiding flood-hit communities.

Hate crimes and discrimination in India

This week, in Hyderabad, Hindu extremists staged a protest outside the 400-year-old Masjid-e-Hussaini, demanding the shutdown of the madrasa operating inside. In Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa, the historic Ghazi Miyan Shrine was vandalized. In Jharkhand, a Hindu man was caught impersonating a Muslim woman in a burqa during a Hindu event in Ranchi, allegedly to stoke discord. In Rajasthan’s Tonk, a Muslim medical intern was publicly asked to remove her hijab by a senior doctor, sparking outrage over religious discrimination in professional spaces.

Resistance & Organizing

Image: Meer Faisal

Protest Organized in Mumbai in Solidarity with Gaza

Around 250 citizens, political leaders, activists, and artists gathered in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan to condemn violence against Palestinians and advocate for humanitarian accountability. Organizers and speakers emphasized the importance of global solidarity, press freedom, and protection of civilians. 

Image: Mohammad Shahamath/Maktoob

Fatima Nafees Vows to Keep Fighting for Justice for Son Najeeb

At a public meeting organized by JNUSU, Fatima Nafees, mother of missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, delivered a powerful address, pledging to continue her fight despite poor health. Eight years after Najeeb’s disappearance following an assault by Hindu extremists, she reaffirmed her commitment to challenge the closure report in court and urged students to carry the struggle forward.

Kerala Student Activist Marks 100 Days in Jail, Support Rallies Grow

Friends, family, and human rights advocates are calling for the release of 26-year-old Rejaz M. Sydeek, a student activist and independent journalist from Kerala, who has been at the forefront of documenting caste injustice and state repression. It has been over 100 days since he was arrested and charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for making social media posts that criticized India’s Operation Sindoor. 

Defender of the Week

 

This week, we’re spotlighting Talha Mannan, a PhD scholar and former student leader at the renowned Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), who was booked for raising pro-Palestine slogans during protests against fee hikes and in support of restoring the Students’ Union. Despite facing criminal charges, Mannan continues to embody the spirit of student resistance, standing for both marginalized voices on campus and global solidarity.

Voices from the Ground 

“The witchhunt and media trail of student leader Talha Mannan for raising slogans in support of Palestine shows the moral collapse of Indian society at large and especially how the law enforcement has become an instrument of political vendetta…Criminalizing solidarity while remaining silent on war crimes exposes the state’s complicity and its attack on free speech.”

 

– Afreen Fatima, Muslim student activist, researcher

IAMC in Action

• IAMC and coalition partners held a Congressional Briefing on August 18th, during which Congress Party Spokesperson Pawan Khera accused the BJP and ECI of “organized deletion” of minorities from voter rolls, in what he called “[collusion] in subverting the elections of India.” Also speaking was senior Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Hegde, who slammed authorities in BJP-ruled Assam for “absolutely illegal” and inhumane deportation of Bengali-speaking Indian Muslims to Bangladesh. Read our press release with more highlights here, and watch the full briefing here. 
• We’re continuing to catalogue daily hate crimes against Muslims and other minorities in India on our social media. Follow us on X and Instagram to keep up to date on the situation. 

What to Watch Next Week

• In honor of Sikh elder Harpal Singh, who was the victim of a brutal attack in North Hollywood, Sikh Coalition is gathering the community to distribute meals and hygiene supplies on August 23. See more details here.  
• The Savera coalition is continuing to release installments of our new zine, titled “Savera’s Guide to Recognizing Hindu Supremacy.” We will release new installments of the zine every week. You can start reading the zine from this post.