IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (May 9, 2025)

This Week at a Glance 

Tensions continue to escalate as airstrikes by India and Pakistan claim civilian lives, even as India’s mainstream media outlets peddle disinformation and drench headlines in bloodlust for an all-out war. Across three Indian states, Muslim homes, madrasas, and mosques were demolished while 2,800 people were detained in Kashmir amid a sweeping post-Pahalgam crackdown. A report by India Hate Lab (IHL) documented 64 hate speech incidents targeting Muslims in the last two weeks; meanwhile, the website of prominent independent news outlet The Wire was blocked by the Indian government, and the X account of another major independent news portal, Maktoob Media, was withheld. Protests against the Waqf Amendment Act intensified across Karnataka and Bihar, and voices calling for peace, including the widow of a slain officer and a viral video of a Muslim boy, stood out amid rising hate. On the US front, IAMC condemned the killing of civilians in airstrikes by India and Pakistan, called for swift de-escalation, and urged unity within the diaspora.

Top Stories

Civilians killed in India and Pakistan’s airstrikes, cross-border shelling

Indian airstrikes have killed over 30 people in Pakistan, while Pakistani shelling has killed at least 16 people along border areas in Jammu region. On both sides, children have been among the victims.

Over 8,000 X accounts, including Maktoob Media, The Wire’s website, blocked

Over 8,000 X accounts, including that of independent news portal Maktoob Media, have been withheld in India after a legal demand from the government. The website of prominent news outlet The Wire was also blocked.

Demolitions target Muslim areas across three states, leaving hundreds homeless

In coordinated demolition drives across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, authorities razed homes, madrasas, and religious sites in Muslim-majority areas, citing court orders. The demolitions have displaced hundreds of families and sparked accusations of collective punishment.

Sixty-four hate speeches against Muslims across India in 14 days post-Pahalgam attack

A report by India Hate Lab recorded 64 hate speech events across India following the Pahalgam attack, led by Hindu far-right groups. Speakers used dehumanizing slurs for Muslims and openly incited violence, exclusion, and economic boycotts.

Mass detentions sweep Kashmir after Pahalgam attack, 90 booked 

Following the attack in Pahalgam, police in Jammu and Kashmir have detained around 2,800 people and booked 90 under the stringent Public Safety Act. A Kashmiri journalist, Hilal Mir, was also detained. Critics argue that such mass detentions amount to collective punishment and raise concerns about civil liberties in the region.

Hate crimes and discrimination in India

This week, a Kashmiri youth’s dead body was found after alleged army detention, a mosque in Shimla was ordered to be demolished, and villages near Pune banned non-local Muslims from Friday prayers. Read more here.

Resistance & Organizing

Widow of Pahalgam attack victim urges peace, opposes targeting of Muslims

Himanshi, wife of slain officer Lt. Vinay Narwal, appealed for unity amid rising anti-Muslim hate crimes, saying, “We should not target Muslims or Kashmiris. We want peace.” 

Hundreds of thousands continue to rally against the Waqf Amendment Bill  

Across Karnataka and Bihar, hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest the Waqf Amendment Act and pledged to continue the agitation until the law is repealed. The Act has been widely criticized for targeting Muslim properties and enabling state control over mosques and graveyards.

Viral video shows Muslim boy outsmarting reporter’s hate bait with message of peace 

In a viral video, a young Indian Muslim boy calmly addresses a reporter’s inflammatory questions, advocating for peace and mutual respect between India and Pakistan.

Defender of the Week

This week, we’re spotlighting Himanshi Narwal, the widow of Lt. Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the Pahalgam attack. In the face of the Hindu right’s attempts to use her husband’s death as a rallying point, Himanshi has boldly refused to give in to hate, telling the press, “We don’t want people going against Muslims or Kashmiris. We want peace and only peace… we want justice.”

Voices from the Ground 

“I remind myself that this sacrifice is worth the risk — it may not lead to immediate results, but will eventually make us see through the machinations of secular majoritarianism. I find solace in the hope that struggles like mine eventually lead us to true democratic reforms. In the words of Zaheer Kashmiri: 

‘Hamein hai ilm ki hum hain chiraag-e-aakhir-e-shab, hamaare baad andhera nahi ujaala hai.’

(We are aware that we are lamps burning at the end of the night, what comes after us is not darkness, but morning light.)”

– Sharjeel Imam, Muslim prisoner of conscience

IAMC in Action

• IAMC released a statement condemning the killing of civilians in airstrikes by India and Pakistan, and called for swift de-escalation. We maintain that unity within the diaspora is a must at this difficult time, and stand in solidarity with all innocents affected by nationalistic violence. 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

• Starting Monday, IAMC will be partnering with a number of MSAs and other orgs in the Bay Area to host a series of educational events on Hindutva, the global far right, and the persecution of Indian Muslims. Here’s our full itinerary:
  • May 12th: Stanford University, 7:40 PM to 8:40 PM PST
  • May 13: West Valley Muslim Association’s Siraat program, 6 PM to 8:30 PM
  • May 14th: UC Santa Cruz, 4 PM to 5 PM
  • May 15th: San Francisco State University, time TBD
• 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.
• On May 11, our friends at SALDEF will be in Chicago to host “Sikhs in Storytelling” – a day of panels, workshops, and opportunities to meet Sikh community leaders, creatives, entertainers, and artists. Learn more 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.