Newsletter: IAMC met with UN Special Rapporteurs, led a condemnation of campus Hindutva event, and more
As salamu alaykum,
October brought with it a surge of impactful advocacy and interfaith outreach. From challenging Hindutva’s growing influence on U.S. campuses to spotlighting India’s human rights crisis at the United Nations, IAMC continued to speak out and strengthen our alliances across faiths and communities.
BULLET POINT SUMMARY:
- IAMC led our coalition partners in writing a letter to the administration of the University of Texas at Dallas, raising concern over a campus event glorifying the founder of the RSS
- Published two opinion pieces criticizing California Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto of SB509, a bill aimed at combating transnational repression (TNR)
- Advocacy Director Ajit Sahi met with two Special Rapporteurs from the United Nations in New York City, and spoke at several churches and congregations in Atlanta about Hindutva
- Participated in a roundtable at the Interfaith Center of Emory University
- Joined our coalition partners in announcing a two-part webinar series addressing the rise of anti-Indian racism, as well as the urgent need for bridge-building in the diaspora
- And more!
Keep scrolling to learn more about each of these achievements in detail.
MEETING WITH UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS
Our Advocacy Director, Ajit Sahi, met in New York City with UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor, and UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Prof. Nicolas Levrat. In these meetings, Ajit raised concerns about India’s transnational repression, citing the U.S. prosecution of an Indian national accused in a murder-for-hire plot against a Sikh activist.
DENOUNCING PRO-RSS PROPAGANDA ON CAMPUS
IAMC led a diverse coalition of student groups and national civil rights organizations in writing to the school administration of the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), expressing our grave concern over a student event featuring the author of a biography on K.B. Hedgewar, a prominent Hindu supremacist figure and the founder of the paramilitary group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The book paints a sympathetic view of Hedgewar, calling him only a “controversial, yet extraordinary man” and advertising a “nuanced perspective” on a group that modeled its ideological project off the Nazis.
Our letter, which was signed by a coalition of student groups and national civil rights organizations, warned that “Presenting such a view of a fascist group in a university setting, one that is supposed to be safe and inclusive for all students, implicitly validates a worldview that denies equal dignity to minority communities and has incited real-world violence.”
You can read the letter and see the full list of signatories here.
INTERFAITH & CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Advocacy Director Ajit Sahi traveled to Atlanta to participate in a roundtable at the Interfaith Center of Emory University. He also tapped into the crucial audience of American Christians, speaking at several churches and congregations about the dangers of Hindutva, and conducting vital outreach to educate the Christian community about the rise of Hindu nationalism and its violent targeting of Indian Christians.
OP-EDS AND STATEMENTS ON…
This month, we released a number of statements on important and alarming issues, beginning with a statement of grave concern over California Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision to veto a SB509. Vetoing the bill, which was aimed at combating transnational repression (TNR), makes all Indian Americans less safe – a point we raised in the op-ed we published in Cal Matters, and our Letter to the Editor in the San Francisco Chronicle.
We also spoke out in support of Rutgers University staff and students after a planned event on Hindutva sparked far-right backlash, and expressed our alarm over New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli’s decision to share a stage with Devkinandan Thakur, a Hindu supremacist monk notorious for spreading hate and inciting violence against India’s religious minorities.
You can read all our statements for the month here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
On November 9, 2025 IAMC will co-host a NJ Premier of Saffron Kingdom at Teaneck theater, Sunday, Nov, 9th at 3:00 pm. The film explores the Kashmir conflict through a family’s journey from Srinagar in the 1990s to Atlanta in 2019, and is a response to the erasure of Kashmir history. Come meet Arfat Sheikh, who will be receiving an award for this film before the screening and will participate in the panel discussion with Kashmiri Hindu professor Mona Bahn.
On Tuesday, November 11, at 7:00 pm EST, IAMC will be joining our coalition partners at Savera for an online panel addressing the urgent need for bridge-building in a diaspora that has long been under attack from Hindu supremacists. You can register for the event here.
On November 12, Associate Media Director, Safa Ahmed, will also be speaking at a webinar on Hindutva in America, organized by the Rutgers Center for Security, Race, and Rights and the American Constitution Society. Register for the event here.
UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS
Over the next couple of months, our chapters will be holding fundraising events nationwide to support the fight against Hindutva in the US and India. We’re looking forward to a host of brilliant guest speakers, inspiring addresses, and of course, great food.
We encourage you to come out and join us in supporting our community. Find out when your local chapter’s fundraiser is by contacting amin@iamc.com.
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
Here’s what our volunteers have been up to nationwide.
Boston
- Had a booth at the 2025 Annual New England Muslim Festival (NEMF), held at the Islamic Center of New England (ICNE) in Sharon on October 4, 2025. NEMF is an annual celebration that brings together communities from across the region to experience the beauty of Muslim culture, food, traditions, and heritage. The booth had a good footfall, with quite a few non-Indians showing interest and wanting to know more about IAMC.
Chicago
- Hosted an event in collaboration with the Center on South Asian Studies (CSAS), featuring Bushra Khanam and Ali Javed on the topic “Indian Muslim Women: Media, Identity & Politics in Journalism in India.” Over 55 individuals attended the event, enjoying lunch while engaging in a lively discussion session with our speakers.
- Sponsored and participated in the CAIR-sponsored event at Drury Lane, Oakbrook. Volunteers staffed a booth to raise awareness and distribute FRD flyers, engaging attendees and sharing information about our initiatives.
- Hosted an international conference on Waqf in India, bringing together renowned journalists and advocates from around the world. The discussions focused on how those of us living in the U.S. can support residents impacted by policy changes that primarily benefit the government rather than the community. Breakfast and lunch were provided for all attendees. IAMC collaborated with partner organizations including CSAS, Aliah University, and American Islamic College.
Dallas
- Held a highly successful fundraiser with a keynote by Mehdi Hasan, with over 500 community members attending this event
- Held its inaugural annual coalition summit on October 25. This event brought together senior clergy from various faith groups, leaders from the Institute of Higher Education, interfaith leaders, local political leaders, and local advocacy organizations. This event was keynoted by Rev. Neal Christie of the United Methodist Church.
- Led a mission-critical project countering an event at UT Dallas that was intended to celebrate Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. The team directly worked with activist students from the UTD campus and included supportive professors. With help from Coalition members and the national team, we were able to quickly turn around a letter addressed to UTD leadership and produce social media collateral. The team was quickly able to secure endorsements from multiple coalition orgs.
- Coalition member Pastor Paula Keeth, who is deeply involved in planning the Coalition summit, published a letter to the editor in the Dallas Morning News, highlighting concerns related to religious nationalism and specifically calling out concerns associated with India and Hindutva.
New Jersey
- Held a meaningful Lunch & Learn on Oct 25th 2025 at St. Mark’s, bringing together Christian, Jewish, and diverse community leaders to raise awareness about Hindutva ideology and its impact on religious minorities. It was a thoughtful and engaging conversation focused on justice, solidarity, and protecting pluralism.
Want to get involved with your local chapter? Reach out to amin@iamc.com to get connected.
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