IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (June 26, 2025)

This Week at a Glance 

Hate crimes surged across India in the past year, with a new report documenting 947 incidents, most of which targeted Muslims and Christians. United Nations experts called for an end to targeted demolitions that disproportionately affect minorities, while Gujarat’s crackdown on migrants has raised concerns over arbitrary deportations. Meanwhile, in a disturbing surge of cow vigilantism, Hindu extremist groups attacked Muslims and Dalits across six states. With the judiciary under scrutiny, an impeachment move against an Islamophobic judge gained traction, and the Supreme Court criticized Uttar Pradesh for delay in bail for a Muslim man detained under anti-conversion laws. On the US front, IAMC is taking the lead in condemning and calling for the cancellation of a Dallas event featuring prominent Hindu supremacist Kajal Hindustani. We’re also gearing up to be featured at the ICNA West conference in the Bay Area, and the Socialism Conference in Chicago.

Top Stories

Reuters

Nearly 602 Hate Crimes  Documented in Modi’s Third Term

A new report tracking hate crimes during Prime Minister Modi’s third term has recorded 602 incidents in just one year—most targeting Muslims and Christians. Jointly compiled by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights and the Quill Foundation, the report links the surge to BJP-led political rhetoric and institutional complicity, warning of growing impunity and normalization of hate.

Kazi Sharowar Hussain/ Maktoob

UN Expert Says India Leading the World in Illegal Demolitions

UN human rights experts have called on India to halt arbitrary demolitions disproportionately impacting Muslims, migrants, and low-income communities, saying that India is “leading the world in illegal home demolitions.” 

JCB Prize for Literature Discontinued Amid Backlash Over Demolitions

The JCB Prize for Literature, India’s most high-paying literary award, has been discontinued following the cancellation of its foundation’s licence. The move comes months after protests over JCB’s role in demolition drives in India and Palestine.

Gujarat Detains 200 Migrants Amid Fears of Arbitrary Deportations

Over 200 alleged Bangladeshi migrants have been detained in Gujarat as part of a sweeping crackdown. Rights groups warn the state’s aggressive deportation drive risks violating due process, with many workers facing expulsion despite years of residence and economic vulnerability.

 Instagram Censors Satirical Meme Page Critical of Indian Government

The popular meme account The Savala Vada has been withheld in India after gaining attention for its sharp satire of the Modi government. Run by a group of university students, the page’s disappearance sparked online outrage over growing censorship of political humour and dissent.

Amit Dave/ Reuters

Cow vigilantes assault Muslims and Dalits in coordinated attacks across six states

In a spate of cow-related vigilantism, Hindu nationalist groups violently attacked cattle transporters in Assam, Haryana, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Victims were publicly beaten, shaved, paraded, and forced to drink sewage water. 

Hate crimes and discrimination in India

In Madhya Pradesh, a Muslim businessman was killed in a suspected Hindu extremist attack, while in Delhi, Hindu nationalists evicted a Muslim woman tenant after falsely accusing her of hiding her identity and being Bangladeshi. Separately, 30 protesters were detained at a Palestine solidarity protest outside the Israel Embassy, with one woman hospitalized due to police brutality. Christians also faced escalating violence, especially in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. In Malkangiri, a mob armed with axes attacked Christians returning from church. In Kanker, a Christian family was displaced for refusing to convert to Hinduism. In Raipur and Rajkot, Hindu militants stormed prayer meetings, harassed women, and accused attendees of illegal conversions. In Indore, Hindu extremists detained eight American Christians and a local pastor, later naming the pastor as an accused. Two more pastors were jailed in Balrampur following a similar crackdown. 

Resistance & Organizing

Impeachment Move Against Islamophobic Judge Clears Signature Threshold

An impeachment motion against Justice Shekhar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court has secured the required 50 valid signatures from members of India’s upper house of Parliament. The move follows public outrage over Yadav’s speech at a Hindu nationalist event, where he made openly Islamophobic remarks. 

India’s Top Court Slams State Over Bail Delay, Orders Compensation for Muslim Man

India’s Supreme Court has rebuked the Uttar Pradesh government for holding a Muslim man in jail for nearly a month after bail was granted, calling the delay “unacceptable” and awarding $6,000 in compensation. The man, arrested under the state’s controversial anti-conversion law, remained behind bars due to a clerical error in the bail order.

Kashmiri Youth Once Targeted for Detention, Clears Top Medical Exam

Zubair-ul-Islam Bhat, a young man from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara, has passed the country’s top medical entrance exam just a year after narrowly avoiding preventive detention under India’s draconian Public Safety Act. 

Defender of the Week

This week, we’re spotlighting NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is of Gujarati Muslim heritage and has consistently spoken out against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hindu supremacy. From calling Modi a “war criminal” for his role in the 2002 Gujarat pogrom, to slamming the construction of the Ram Temple on the grounds of the demolished Babri Masjid, Mamdani has been a consistent anti-Hindutva voice in the diaspora. 

Voices from the Ground 

“India is leading the world in illegal home demolitions, especially affecting minorities and vulnerable groups. This is a national scandal – a gross violation of India’s own laws and international law and cannot continue.”

–  Balakrishnan Rajagopal, UN Special Rapporteur 

IAMC in Action

• Prominent hate monger Kajal Hindustani is coming to Dallas, and we’re summoning a coalition of multifaith allies to push back. Read our full statement on the situation here. 
• We’re continuing to update the Indian Muslim Story with new articles – one profiling revolutionary Indian Muslim journalist Pir Muhammad Munis, and the other on the life and love story of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. 
• 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

• Catch IAMC Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed at ICNA West in the Bay Area on Saturday, July 5, at 2pm PST. She’ll be speaking about Hindutva alongside heavyweights in Muslim human rights advocacy – including CAIR’s Zahra Billoo and Imam Khalid Griggs – on a panel titled “Enduring Resilience: The Struggle of the Muslim Ummah.” 
• If you’re in Chicago, you can also catch Safa Ahmed for a panel at the Socialism Conference on July 5 at 10am CST, where she’ll be zooming in virtually to talk about Hindutva and its impact in the United States.
• 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.