IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (May 22, 2026)
This Week at a Glance
This week, anti-CAA activists Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmed were granted six-month interim bail by the Supreme Court. In West Bengal, the BJP-led government imposed cattle slaughter restrictions ahead of Eid al-Adha, ended minority welfare and madrasa assistance programmes, and mandated the singing of “Vande Mataram” in madrassas. A fact-finding report found selective arrests, custodial torture, and discriminatory policing against Muslims after violence in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa. In Jammu, demolition drives left tribal Muslim families homeless, while in Gujarat, a 70-year-old Muslim man died after being taken into custody. Elsewhere, clashes broke out during a demolition drive in Mumbai’s Bandra area, Muslim employees in a Dehradun shoe showroom were labelled “Jihadis” by Hindu extremists, Christian families in Chhattisgarh alleged discrimination and pressure to abandon their faith, two Muslim men in Uttar Pradesh were detained over an Eid-related WhatsApp status, the Supreme Court flagged low UAPA conviction rates in Jammu and Kashmir, and pro-Palestine groups raised concerns over suspected military-grade steel shipments from India to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Top Stories
Anti-CAA activists Khalid Saifi, Tasleem Ahmed granted interim bail
The Supreme Court granted six-month interim bail to activists Tasleem Ahmed and Khalid Saifi, who have been incarcerated since February 2020, for protesting against the anti-Muslim Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The Delhi High Court granted bail to another activist, Salim Malik, in the same case.
BJP-ruled West Bengal govt imposes cattle slaughter rules, stops minority welfare schemes
The BJP-ruled West Bengal government has imposed stringent restrictions on cattle slaughter ahead of Eid al Adha celebrations. It has also decided to discontinue madrasa and minority welfare assistance programmes, while also making the singing of “Vande Mataram” mandatory in all madrassas across the state during morning assembly prayers.
Fact-finding report reports selective targeting of Muslims, custodial torture in Andhra Pradesh
A fact-finding report released by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has reported selective arrests, custodial torture, and discriminatory police action against Muslims following the violence that broke out at Almaspet Circle in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa city on 9 May over a naming dispute involving “Tipu Sultan Circle” and “Hanuman Circle.”
(Zahid Parwaz Choudhary)
Demolition drive in Jammu’s Sidhra leave dozens of tribal Muslim families homeless
Civic officials in Jammu and Kashmir demolished dozens of homes belonging to the Gujjar and Bakarwal families during a demolition drive in Jammu’s Sidhra area, leaving several tribal families homeless and triggering allegations that vulnerable Muslim communities were being selectively targeted.
70-year-old Muslim man dies after arrest, family alleges custodial violence
A 70-year-old Muslim man, Zaheer Shaikh, died after being taken into police custody in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city, triggering allegations of custodial violence, protests by residents, and renewed scrutiny over police conduct in cases linked to cattle slaughter accusations. Shaikh was detained in connection to a cattle slaughter case. His family has accused police personnel of subjecting him to physical assault and humiliation during custody.
Hate crimes and discrimination in India
This week, in Mumbai’s Bandra, clashes broke out during a demolition drive targeting structures, including huts and a mosque allegedly built on railway land, leaving several protesters injured. In Dehradun, Hindu extremists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal entered a shoes showroom and pasted “Jihadi” labels on Muslim employees. Meanwhile, Christian families in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district say that they have been denied access to water sources and livelihoods and pressured to abandon their faith. In Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur, two Muslim men were detained over a WhatsApp Eid al-Adha status that allegedly featured a cow image. Separately, the Supreme Court raised concerns over low conviction rates under the UAPA, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. Pro-Palestine activists warned over suspected military-grade steel shipments from India to Israel amid concerns over their possible use in the war in Gaza.
Resistance & Organizing
Nearly 200 academics seek revocation of student’s suspension over Kunan Poshpora discussion
A total of 179 professors and academicians wrote an open letter to Azim Premji University administration seeking the revocation of a two-year ban imposed on a student for participating in a discussion marking the anniversary of Kashmir’s Kunan Poshpora mass rape allegations.
Opposition lawmaker, CPIML challenge Bengal govt’s cattle slaughter restrictions
The Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation’s West Bengal unit and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra have separately approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the state government’s recent notification regulating cattle slaughter ahead of Eid al-Adha, arguing that the restrictions could impact religious practices and the rural economy.
Defender of the Week
This week, we’re spotlighting Khalid Saifi, for his sustained advocacy work and years-long legal ordeal tied to the aftermath of the 2020 Delhi violence cases. A co-founder of United Against Hate, Saifi helped organize against hate crimes and participated in protests against the anti-Muslim Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He was arrested in February 2020 and has now been granted a 6-month bail by the Supreme Court.
Voices from the Ground
“We’re defending our “glorious” record on human rights abroad just 24 hours after the Supreme Court criticized its own verdict denying bail to Umar Khalid who has been jailed for over 5 years without trial. There are chief ministers who campaigned in recent elections while making the most vicious remarks targeting religious minorities. In Bengal, over 2.7 million valid voters were denied their basic right to vote in elections last month. Religious politics over food and dietary habits is being unleashed across the country. Sure, we can try to fool the world with carefully scripted diplomatic readouts but the truth cannot be hidden so easily.
– Saket Gokhale, Former Rajya Sabha MP, TMC leader
IAMC in Action
- IAMC strongly condemned the horrific shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, a devastating act of violence and an apparent hate crime that targeted worshippers in a sacred space meant for prayer, reflection, and community. Read our statement here.
What to Watch Next Week
- IAMC Boston along with coalition partners ASDSA, BSAC and SAPAN have organized an event “ Stories the State Wants Erased” featuring Neha Dixit, award winning author and journalist.
