IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (June 20, 2025)
This Week at a Glance
This week, in Madhya Pradesh, horrific videos of a mob lynching by cow vigilantes sparked outrage, while over 600 families were evicted without aid in Assam. Four Muslim men were brought back to India after being wrongfully deported, highlighting the dangers of the country’s bigoted push to drive out immigrants and refugees. In Uttar Pradesh, a young Muslim man who was jailed at 16 under “love jihad” laws was finally acquitted, while attacks on Christians and mass job terminations of Muslim workers pointed to widening communal targeting. Meanwhile, Muslim leaders and civil society groups stepped up legal and political resistance against hate speech, judicial bigotry, and the Waqf Amendment Act. On the US front, IAMC released a new report on India’s transnational repression (TNR), hosted a panel of experts and activists to speak on the human impact of TNR, and gave a powerful testimony on the impact of Hindutva on Muslim Americans at a panel hosted by Rutgers Law Center for Security, Race, and Rights.
Top Stories
IAMC Releases New Report on Modi Government’s Transnational Repression in US
IAMC released a shocking new report titled “Transnational Repression: The Modi Regime’s Targeting of Critics in the United States,” documenting how Indian consulates and state-aligned actors have deployed at least 9 of the 11 forms of TNR tactics recognized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Read the full report here, and watch our panel event detailing the report and TNR here.
24-Year-Old Muslim Man Lynched in Cow Vigilante Attack
Horrifying videos of yet another mob lynching have sparked nationwide outrage. In the videos, Hindu extremist cow vigilantes attack and lynch 24-year-old Junaid Khan, who was transporting cattle for his dairy business in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district. His cousin Arman, who was also attacked, remains in critical condition. Despite clear signs of a mob lynching, police have not invoked organised crime charges.
Hundreds of Muslim Families Evicted in Assam, Left Homeless Without Aid
Over 660 homes in Assam’s Goalpara district were illegally demolished by civic officials, displacing mostly Muslim daily wage families. Now shelterless in extreme heat and rain, many fear for their safety, their children’s education, and lack of basic facilities.
Muslim Men Wrongfully Deported to Bangladesh Return After Indian Citizenship Verified
Four Muslim men from West Bengal who were wrongfully deported to Bangladesh as “illegal immigrants” were brought back to India after local police produced proof of their citizenship. The incident underscores growing fears around arbitrary deportations, with more than 2,000 people deported since the launch of Operation Sindoor.
“Love Jihad” Laws Exposed as Baseless as Muslim Youth Acquitted in Landmark Case
Mohammad Saqib, who was jailed at only 16 years old under Uttar Pradesh’s draconian anti-conversion law, was acquitted of “love jihad” charges after four years and 70 court hearings. With hundreds still under trial, critics say these laws are being weaponized to criminalize interfaith love and target Muslim men.
Hate crimes and discrimination in India
This week, in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, authorities demolished Muslim homes and madrasas following accusations of cow slaughter and encroachment. In Maharashtra, 114 Muslim employees were abruptly terminated by a prominent temple trust, allegedly under pressure from right-wing groups. Far-right vigilantes carried out violent assaults in Solapur, Indore, and Jodhpur, targeting Muslim men over cattle transport and interfaith relationships, while police made no arrests. In Assam, the number of people jailed over social media posts since April has risen to 92, as crackdowns continue. Meanwhile, West Bengal saw communal clashes in Kolkata’s outskirts, resulting in mass arrests.
Resistance & Organizing
Muslim Leaders Demand Repeal of Controversial Waqf Amendment Bill
Members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) have publicly opposed the newly introduced Waqf Amendment Act 2025, calling it discriminatory and unconstitutional. Declaring their intent to continue peaceful protests until the law is repealed, AIMPLB leaders say the community will not stay silent as efforts to undermine religious autonomy intensify.
Muslim Opposition Leader Proposes Law to Tackle Religious Hate
An opposition leader from the Samajwadi Party, Abu Asim Azmi, has introduced a private member bill in the Maharashtra Assembly seeking to criminalize hate speech and religious insults. The proposed Prevention of Hatred and Insult to Religion Act, 2025, aims to curb rising anti-Muslim rhetoric, particularly on social media.
Lawyers’ Group Demands Action Against Judge for Islamophobic Remarks
The All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice (AILAJ) has strongly condemned the Supreme Court’s inaction against a sitting High Court judge accused of hate speech at a Hindu nationalist event. Calling the delay a “threat to judicial credibility”, AILAJ demanded an independent inquiry and immediate withdrawal of the Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav’s responsibilities, stating that bigotry has no place in India’s judiciary.
Defender of the Week
This week, we’re spotlighting Harsh Mander— a writer, former civil servant, and human rights advocate whose work has consistently challenged state-sponsored hate and communal violence in India. As founder of Karwan-e-Mohabbat, Mander has travelled across the country to visit victims of lynching, hate crimes, and police violence, offering solidarity, legal aid, and public testimony. Despite facing intimidation, legal harassment, and public vilification, he continues to speak truth to power and defend India’s secular and constitutional values.
Voices from the Ground
“It is shameful and disappointing that our government has chosen to abstain on the UN motion for the protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations in Gaza. 60,000 people, mostly women and children have been killed already, an entire population is being confined and starved to death, and we are refusing to take a stand…How can we, as a nation, just abandon the principles of our constitution, and the values of our freedom struggle that led the way for an international arena based on peace and humanity?”
– , Opposition leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
IAMC in Action
- IAMC is profoundly saddened by the devastating Ahmedabad plane crash, and we share in the grief, shock, and concern felt by the people of Gujarat and the entire nation. Read our full statement on the tragedy here.
- Our Associate Media Director, Safa Ahmed, gave a powerful testimony on the impact of Hindutva on Muslim Americans of all backgrounds at a panel event organized by Rutgers Law Center for Security, Race, and Rights (CSRR). Watch the full event here, and read CSRR’s new report on Hindutva in America here.
- We’re continuing to receive applications for the Indian American Youth Council (IAMYC), a new platform for young leaders who are passionate about minority rights, the reclaiming of Indian Muslim pride, and the fight against Hindu supremacist ideology in India and globally. We’re starting off with open applications for Chair and Vice Chair positions in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Texas, and New York. IAMYC is open to college students and young professionals – apply now here, and email youthcouncil@iamc.com with any questions.
- 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
- Our friends at Sikh Coalition are collecting signatures for a petition demanding an apology for Congresswoman Mary Miller’s (R-IL) anti-Muslim and anti-Sikh bigotry in a recent social media post targeting both communities. Sign the petition here.
- IAMC will be at ICNA West in the Bay Area over Fourth of July weekend, insha Allah! Keep an eye out for more details on the session we’ll be participating in.
- IAMC’s newest multimedia project, the Indian Muslim Story, is an exploration of Indian Muslim heritage, identity, and current issues. We release new articles each week, so be sure to follow us on Instagram for accompanying graphics and videos.
