MUSLIMS in India continue to face targeted hate crimes and violence fuelled by religious bias and intolerance. Incidents such as mob lynching, communal riots and attacks on their religious sites have become a frequent occurrence.
In the latest what could be termed a brutal and barbaric act, a group of Hindu extremist ‘cow vigilantes’ beat a Muslim man to death in Maharashtra’s Nashik district on suspicion of smuggling beef. The report stated that two men were in the process of transporting meat in a car when they were stopped and assaulted by the so-called vigilantes. This is a tragic reminder of the rising tide of religious intolerance and the plight faced by Muslims in India. Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014 there has been a rise in attacks on Muslim cattle owners by Hindu nationalists. Most Indian states have banned cow slaughter and have put in place stringent laws for slaughtering a cow. The regrettable part is that these so-called cow vigilantes get away with the murders. This culture of impunity is instilling a sense of insecurity and fear amongst the Muslim population. The failure to address these acts of violence and bring the perpetrators to justice sends a distressing message that the lives and rights of Muslims are not accorded the same level of importance as given to other citizens. The situation has reached such an alarming level that the Muslims are also not being allowed to practise their religion. Instances of restrictions on mosque construction, limitations on the call to prayer, ban on hijab etc have become increasingly prevalent. There are now several international reports which also acknowledge the plight of Indian Muslims. Warnings are also being issued of the genocide threat faced by the Indian Muslims. It is for the international community to rise above their expediency and come forward for the protection of fundamental rights of the Indian Muslims before it is too late. It is also for the Muslim countries to compellingly speak up for their brothers and sisters in India.
