IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (May 23, 2025)
This Week at a Glance
The Indian government continued to repress its critics through the shocking arrest of political scientist Ali Khan Mahmudabad over social media posts, and also through the cancellation of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status for UK-based academic Nitasha Kaul. In Gujarat, the illegal demolitions left over 7,000 Muslims homeless, while in Bihar, two Muslim men were killed, sparking wider concerns of anti-Muslim sentiment among law enforcement. Amid this rampant brutality, the Supreme Court granted bail to a former Popular Front of India (PFI) member; over 10,000 protested against the Waqf Amendment Act in Telangana; and the United Nations gave India a deadline to address the systemic abuse of Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam. On the US front, IAMC officially launched applications for our national Youth Council, onboarded 15 courageous young leaders as interns, and concluded our week-long series of events in the Bay Area with a bang, hitting over 10k views on Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed’s talk on Hindutva in Tech.
Top Stories
UN Gives India Deadline to Respond to Violence Against Bengali-Speaking Muslims in Assam
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has expressed serious concern over the severe suppression of Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, including through deprivation of citizenship, forced evictions, and state-led repression of Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam. The Committee urged India to respond by August 1 under international human rights obligations.
Indian Professor Arrested Over Social Media Posts on India-Pakistan Conflict
Political scientist Ali Khan Mahmudabad was arrested after criticizing India’s recent military escalation with Pakistan on social media. The Supreme Court has since granted him interim bail, but allowed the investigation to proceed under a special team.
Thousands of Muslims Left Homeless After Mass Demolition in Gujarat
Over 7,000 homes were razed in a Muslim-majority area in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, displacing thousands of mostly Muslim residents, some with decades of ties to the land. Locals say they were branded as migrant Bangladeshis without proof, denied due process, and left without shelter, water, or compensation.
Two Muslim Men Killed in Bihar, Families Allege Targeted Violence and Police Complicity
In Bihar’s Siwan district, 28-year-old Mohammad Shehzad Haq died from severe injuries after an alleged police beating days before his wedding. Just days earlier in Gopalganj, 19-year-old Kaif Khan was brutally stabbed to death in a suspected premeditated attack. His family now also faces police retaliation in the form of false charges.
India Cancels OCI Status of British-Kashmiri Academic Over Criticism of Modi Government
The Indian government canceled the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status of British-Kashmiri scholar Nitasha Kaul, who says the move is a case of transnational repression, in retaliation for her work exposing anti-minority and anti-democratic policies.
Hate crimes and discrimination in India
This week, Muslim-owned homes were demolished in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. In Madhya Pradesh, Muslim men were publicly paraded and humiliated over cow slaughter allegations, while a school in Maharashtra denied admission to Muslim girls on religious grounds.
Resistance & Organizing
“You Cannot Jail Someone for Their Ideology”: Supreme Court Grants Bail to Ex-PFI Member
The Supreme Court granted bail to former Popular Front of India (PFI) leader Abdul Sathar, rejecting the state’s attempt to prolong his detention over ideological affiliation and weak evidence in a murder conspiracy case. The Court emphasized that mere ideology is not a crime.
Thousands Protest against Waqf Amendments in Telangana
Over 10,000 people gathered in Warangal for a massive protest against the Waqf Amendment Act 2025, calling it a threat to Muslim community assets and constitutional rights. The Act has been widely criticized for targeting Muslim properties and enabling state control over mosques and graveyards.
Two Muslim Men Hailed as Heroes After Rescuing 13 from Fire in Hyderabad
Returning from morning prayers, Mir Zahid and Mohammad Azmath rushed into a burning building to save the lives of 13 people, including women and children.
Defender of the Week
This week, we’re spotlighting Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a political scientist, historian, and professor at Ashoka University, who was arrested over social media posts allegedly critical of India’s military actions. A vocal advocate for pluralism and academic freedom, Mahmudabad has long written on nationalism, Islam, and Indian Muslim identity. His arrest has sparked outrage among scholars and rights groups, with many calling it a targeted attack on dissent and free expression.
Voices from the Ground
“The state by arresting Prof Mahmudabad is demonstrating that it cannot tolerate articulate Muslim voices which seem to challenge its narrative. The fact that Gulfisha Fatima, Umar Khalid, Kahlid Saifi are in jail and Nadeem Khan and Mohammad Zubair are being persecuted for acts of speech is unconscionable… All of the above were journalists, writers, human rights activists, students or ordinary citizens who happened to be Muslim and were arrested for the crime of exercising their right under Article 19(1)(a). Their arrests only buttress the impression of a state which cannot tolerate dissent.”
IAMC in Action
- IAMC has officially opened 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 proud to announce that we’ve officially onboarded 15 courageous, talented young leaders to the IAMC team as part of our summer-long Omar Khalidi Scholars Program. Our interns will be taking on work in advocacy, media, and youth outreach, as well as be trained as spokespeople for our movement.
- We wrapped up our series of educational events across the Bay Area with a talk by our Associate Media Director Safa Ahmed on Hindutva in Tech at Muslim Community Center (MCC) East Bay. The video has hit 10k views in four days, and counting – watch the full thing here.
- We released a statement condemning the horrific incident during which Rohingya refugees were cruelly cast into Indian waters as a gross violation of international law. Read our full statement 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
- Catch IAMC at the 2025 ICNA Convention in Baltimore this Memorial Day Weekend, where our Associate Director Amin Zama and members of our Maryland chapter will be manning Booth 3008 at the Entrance Registration area. We’ll be offering IAMC volunteer training as well as more information about our cause.
- Don’t miss the ICNA itinerary of our friends at CAIR – they’ll be hosting a series of important workshops on how to navigate America’s rising climate of anti-Muslim bigotry. See their full schedule for the conference here.
- Amnesty International is holding its US Board of Directors Election through May 30. Voting is a way to make your voice heard in the shaping of Amnesty’s US activities. Get to know the candidates here.
- 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.
