Hadid | 𝔽rAI |

I express my deep concern and strongly condemn the recent demolition of more than 1,100 Bengali Muslim homes in Assam, India, by the authorities. The demolition drive also reportedly destroyed more than 10 mosques, some of which had stood for over 50 years. While the authorities have justified these actions as an effort to reclaim government and forest land from alleged “encroachers”, Indian media reports indicate that many affected families have deep-rooted ties to the region, having lived on these lands since long before India’s independence. Instead of ensuring adequate resettlement and rehabilitation, the authorities have left many families displaced and vulnerable, with some reportedly placed in detention centres. This latest operation is part of a disturbing pattern of discrimination and persecution of Bengali Muslims in India, fuelled by Hindutva-driven politics. Approximately 19,000 families have reportedly been displaced over the past decade. For years, Bengali Muslims in India have faced crackdowns, forced push-ins and exclusion from voter lists. These actions suggest that the current government is pursuing a targeted agenda against Muslim minorities and actively enforcing measures that threaten their rights and security. This evokes the unlawful demolition of the historic Babri Masjid in 1992, an event that remains an enduring symbol of religious intolerance and communal division. Under Hindutva fascism, India has categorically failed to protect its minority communities, including Muslims, Christians and Sikhs, as well as lower-caste Hindus. I call upon the international community to take immediate cognisance of the systematic persecution of Muslims by the Indian authorities. The Indian government must be held accountable for these serious human rights violations and infringements on religious freedom. It must uphold the principles of justice and equality for every Indian citizen, regardless of caste, religion or cultural identity. Muslims of India are Indians too.