ANTI-Islam politics is unfortunately on the rise in India which once never gets tired of blowing the trumpet of a secular state.
Under the butcher of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, restrictions are now being imposed on the use of loudspeakers for Azaan.
There are also instances where the Hindu zealots have been seen resorting to playing Hindu devotional songs on loudspeakers as a counter to Azaan at various mosques in the Indian State of Karnataka.
For Muslims, Azaan has a special significance.It is a call for them to congregate at the mosques to offer their prayers.
Other religious communities also have their own way of calling people to their places of worship.
For instance, Christians have church bells and Jews use horns to call their people for public prayers.
Hence, imposing any sort of restriction on Azaan is against the religious freedom and amounts to creating hurdles in the way of Muslims to offer their prayers.
The day is not far when the Hindu extremists led by Modi will also stop Muslims gathering and offering prayers at mosques.
Already such acts are being witnessed in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The way ban was imposed on hijab in schools and colleges in Karnataka State is also before everybody.
Since 2020, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom has also been recommending that India be designated a Country of Particular Concern or CPC due to the Indian Government’s promotion of Hindu nationalism and engagement and facilitation of systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom.
Time has come for countries like the US to come forward and take requisite steps for the safety and protection of beleaguered Muslim community.
Several human rights groups are already warning of genocide of Indian Muslims.Calls to this effect are being given in the open by the extremist Hindus.
Pakistan has time and again raised the plight of Indian Muslims as well as those in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
All the Muslim countries from the platform of OIC should also send a loud and clear message of solidarity to the Indian Muslims.
The OIC countries will have to rise above their political and economic expediency and raise voice for the rights of the oppressed Muslims.
