Newsletter (April 2026): Coalition Victories, Queens of Islam Podcast, and More
April was a month of bold advocacy and grassroots momentum. From a compelling new podcast episode on India’s iconic Muslim queens, to coalition wins in Maryland and Minnesota, to chapter events marking Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy and engaging university students, IAMC and its chapters continued to advance the cause of justice for Indian minorities.
BULLET POINT SUMMARY:
- Coalition victory: Montgomery County Public Libraries cancels event partnering with VHPA, a known hate group
- Community pressure forces Minnesota senators to reconsider Hindu nationalist bill pushed by CoHNA
- Launched a new Beyond the Taj podcast episode on the powerful legacies of Razia Sultan and Nur Jahan
- Chapter events spanning Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations, university outreach, and interfaith coalition building
- And more!
Keep scrolling to learn more about each of these achievements in detail.
VICTORY! COALITION FORCES MONTGOMERY COUNTY LIBRARY TO CANCEL VHPA-LINKED EVENT
IAMC and a broad coalition of civil rights and interfaith organizations welcomed the decision by Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) in Maryland to cancel their April 12 event at the Germantown Library, which had been planned in partnership with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), a known supremacist hate group. MCPL announced it would reimagine the event with “a focus on ensuring an inclusive and community-centered approach.”
COMMUNITY BACKLASH FORCES MINNESOTA SENATORS TO RECONSIDER HINDU NATIONALIST BILL
Multiple Minnesota State Senators are reconsidering a controversial resolution pushed by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) after weeks of meetings with a diaspora coalition, including IAMC, the India Coalition of Minnesota, and Hindus for Human Rights, who raised concerns about CoHNA’s closeness to the RSS and its potential status as a national security risk.
NEW BEYOND THE TAJ EPISODE: QUEENS OF ISLAM
Who were the iconic queens Razia Sultan and Nur Jahan, and what can we learn from their stories? Journalist and author Tom Verde joins us on our latest episode of Beyond the Taj to talk about the palace intrigue, political rebellion, and powerful legacies of these iconic Muslim queens, drawing on the stories found in his recently published book Queens of Islam. Watch or stream this episode now on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify.
WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY ON…
A coalition of leading civil rights and advocacy organizations, including IAMC, condemned the Hudson Institute for platforming senior leaders of India’s fascist paramilitary group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a foreign organization that the USCIRF has explicitly called to be sanctioned for its role in the religious persecution of minorities in India. Read the coalition statement here.
We condemned the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which has resulted in the removal of 52 million voter names across 12 states, an unprecedented 10.2 percent reduction of the electorate, with Muslims and marginalized communities bearing a disproportionate share of the burden.
IAMC’s Executive Director Rasheed Ahmed published an Op-Ed examining VHPA’s connections to Hindu nationalists in India. Read it here.
CHAPTER EVENTS
Our chapters remained active throughout April, building coalitions, engaging new communities, and amplifying IAMC’s mission. Here’s what they’ve been up to:
BOSTON CHAPTER
- Joined Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations with the Boston Study Group and fellow Ambedkarite partners.
- Engaged with key allies at the Indian Muslim Relief & Charities Gala.
- Hosted an event at the Palestinian Cultural Center in Allston, MA drawing parallels between Hindutva and Zionism.
NEW JERSEY
- Participated in Islamic Awareness Week at Rutgers University, engaging students on challenges faced by Muslims and minorities in India.
- Represented IAMC at Jersey City’s official Equality Day on April 14th, honoring Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s birthday at the Mayor’s Office.
MARYLAND CHAPTER
- Promoted the Action Alert on Islamophobic Hindi books placed in libraries by VHP-A.
SUPPORT IAMC’S WORK
Your support is what makes IAMC’s work possible. From advocating for Indian Muslims in the U.S. and abroad, to holding the Hindu far right accountable, to amplifying our stories and voices through media and education — every action we take is powered by your generosity.
If you’d like to help us continue this fight for justice, pluralism, and a stronger community, please click here to donate.
