BULLET POINT SUMMARY: 

• HRRF Journalism Grant Program: five new media projects shining a light on human rights in India
• Chapter events spanning a literary talk in Boston, community festivals in New Jersey, and a major convention presence in Maryland
• IAMC welcomes Supreme Court bail for anti-CAA activists Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmed
• And more!

Keep scrolling to learn more about each of these achievements in detail.

HRRF JOURNALISM GRANT PROGRAM: NEW MEDIA PROJECTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN INDIA

IAMC’s Human Rights and Religious Freedom (HRRF) Journalism Grant Program supports early and mid-career journalists pursuing independent reporting on the challenges facing minorities and marginalized communities in India. This month, we’re proud to highlight five new published projects supported by the program: a DW report on Christian persecution in central India; a Maktoob Media investigation into India’s expanding anti-conversion regime; The Quint’s video report on Hindutva War on Christians in Madhya Pradesh; The Wire investigation on Gujarat’s cow laws and their devastating impact on Muslim livelihoods; and a DW piece on climate vulnerability and flood survival in India.

Watch: Inside Hindutva War on Christians

IAMC WELCOMES SUPREME COURT BAIL FOR ANTI-CAA ACTIVISTS KHALID SAIFI AND TASLEEM AHMED

IAMC welcomed the Supreme Court of India’s decision to grant six months’ interim bail to human rights activist Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmed, both detained for years under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 protests against India’s discriminatory citizenship law. Read our statement 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

• Co-hosted “Stories The State Tries To Erase”, an interactive talk by journalist and author Neha Dixit, drawing from her acclaimed book The Many Lives of Syeda X, to a packed audience.

NEW JERSEY

• Participated in the ICNA NJ Leadership Luncheon, engaging with community leaders and Imams.
• Co-sponsored and attended the Edison Eid Festival, organized by local masjids.
• Attended a screening of Saffron Kingdom, the first Kashmiri-American film, at AMC New Brunswick 18 on May 16.

MARYLAND CHAPTER

• Represented IAMC at the Annual ICNA Convention with a well-attended booth featuring banners, video displays, and branded materials, generating strong visitor engagement and community registrations.

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.

The post Newsletter (May 2026): HRRF Journalism Grant Projects, Literary Talk, ICNA Convention and More appeared first on IAMC.

This week, three Muslim men were killed across India within a span of five days. Eid Al-Adha celebrations across several states were marred by violence, arrests, and campaigns targeting Muslims, including protests over animal sacrifice in Mumbai, and criminal cases filed over Eid prayers and social media posts in Uttar Pradesh. In Meerut, police exposed a fabricated “love jihad” plot allegedly designed to extort Muslim youths, while separate incidents in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh saw two Muslim men lynched to death by mobs. A tribunal report documented ongoing attacks on Christians, including assaults on prayer meetings, social boycotts, and denial of burial rights across central and eastern India. Meanwhile, authorities demolished a historic mosque in Varanasi, a madrasa in Bahraich, and a Buddhist sanctuary in Maharashtra, while several legal and policing controversies, from alleged custodial abuse to wrongful prosecutions under UAPA, continued to raise concerns about the treatment of minorities and civil liberties.

Top Stories

Three Muslim Men Killed Across India Within Five Days

Three Muslim men were killed across India over a span of five days, between April 28th and June 1st. In Delhi, 26-year-old Arbaaz was stabbed to death by three minors during a quarrel on the day of Eid. In Bihar’s Siwan, 25-year-old Shahzad Ali was dragged from his home by a mob, tied to a tree, and beaten to death. Police acted after media pressure, eventually arresting five accused and suspending an officer who had failed to intervene. In Madhya Pradesh, 24-year-old Ali Khan was dragged off a train at midnight by a mob chanting religious slogans and beaten to death following a seat dispute with a man claiming ties to a right-wing group.

Arrests, and Intimidation Shadow Eid Al-Adha Celebrations Across India

This Eid Al-Adha, Muslim communities across India faced a wave of targeted harassment.In Mumbai, Hindu extremists brought a pig into a housing society to protest Muslim families keeping goats for sacrifice, pressuring officials to demolish the shed where the goats were kept. Similar protests erupted across Mumbai neighbourhoods. In Ghaziabad, a BJP Mayor posted a video alleging she had caught two Muslim children trying to dump cow meat into a river, after which police arrested three men linked to a local madrasa. In Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, 40 people including 15 named individuals were booked by police for offering prayers on a road outside an overcrowded Eidgah. Elsewhere, an elderly Muslim man in Meerut was arrested on Eid day for making critical remarks about UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

False “Love Jihad” Plots and Fake Meat Complaints Used to Target Muslims in Uttar Pradesh

In Meerut, a VHP-linked leader was arrested after allegedly orchestrating a fake “love jihad” trap against two Muslim youths, arranging for a woman to lure them under the pretence of seeking employment. Police later revealed the scheme was designed to extort money from the pair. In a separate incident, a man deliberately placed a stray packet of meat outside his own home and called police with a false complaint, sparking panic among villagers before CCTV footage exposed the deception.

Tribunal documents widespread violence against Christians in India

A tribunal report documented that across Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha, Christians routinely face social boycotts, denial of burial rights, and forced exhumations, with 23 burial-related incidents recorded in 2025 alone. 

In Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, a tribal Christian farmer and his family were repeatedly beaten, had their borewells destroyed, their crops looted, and were forced to permanently abandon their ancestral village after years of violent threats Hindu extremists demanding forced reconversion to Hinduism. In Sukma, over 25 Christians including a pastor and his pregnant wife were attacked by a mob that stormed their prayer meeting, leaving at least five people seriously injured.

Mosques, Madrasas, and a Buddhist Sanctuary Razed Across India

In Varanasi, a nearly 200-year-old mosque was demolished as part of a railway redevelopment project. A separate road-widening demolition drive in the city’s Dalmandi area has already razed over 60 buildings, with six mosques among the 181 structures earmarked for removal. In Bahraich, officials demolished a madrasa and several shops. In Maharashtra’s Kalyan, Buddhist monks lay before bulldozers to protect sacred statues as civic authorities demolished the decades-old Buddha Bhoomi Foundation complex.

Hate crimes and discrimination in India

This week, the Gujarat High Court declined to order an FIR in the alleged custodial death of 70-year-old Zaheer Shaikh. In Uttarakhand, residents alleged that authorities sealed the entire Jama Masjid Thano complex beyond what a court order permitted, a Muslim food vlogger in Muzaffarnagar, UP was arrested after a routine restaurant review reel that briefly showed a Shiva temple landmark triggered a Hindutva hate campaign; West Bengal’s new BJP government directed districts to establish detention holding centres targeting alleged Bangladeshi migrants and Rohingyas; a report raised serious questions about the UP police’s encounter killing of a 19-year-old named Asad; and on the judicial front, in separate cases reflecting the UAPA’s routine misuse, a Muslim man in Odisha was acquitted after over a decade in prison on terror charges, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to a roadside helmet vendor held since 2022 under UAPA, and a Delhi court rebuked police for holding a Muslim man in the Uttam Nagar violence case despite the charge sheet itself acknowledging he was arrested by mistaken identity.

Resistance & Organizing

Media Regulator Flags NDTV Broadcast and Aaj Tak Show for Misleading Narratives

The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has cautioned NDTV over its use of the term “thook jihad” in a December 2024 broadcast concerning an alleged incident in Meerut involving a man falsely accused of spitting on rotis while preparing food. It has also pulled up Hindi news channel Aaj Tak for airing a programme hosted by journalist Sudhir Chaudhary that repeated debunked claims suggesting the Taj Mahal was once a Hindu temple.

Hind Rajab Foundation seeks arrest of Israeli reservist travelling in India

The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed an urgent complaint with the police in India, the country’s Ministry of Home Affairs, and its Bureau of Immigration, demanding the immediate arrest of Eitan Gilboa, an Israeli national currently visiting Himachal Pradesh. HRF is a Belgium-based investigative organisation, which seeks legal action against individuals accused of war crimes in Gaza.

Defender of the Week

This week, we’re spotlighting a group of Muslim men who emerged as heroes for their extraordinary rescue efforts in the aftermath of the deadly hotel fire in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar that claimed 21 lives. Afzal, Mohammad Shah Rukh, Mohammad Aneesh, Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Waseem repeatedly entered the burning building alongside emergency personnel to evacuate trapped guests, saving numerous lives despite the risk to their own. Nearby mattress shop owner Riyazuddin emptied his entire stock onto the street below to cushion people forced to jump from upper floors, reportedly sacrificing merchandise worth around ₹2 lakh and helping save at least 10 people. Local resident and hospital security officer Wasim Raza entered the smoke-filled structure multiple times and performed CPR on at least 10 victims, while volunteers including Mohammad Israr Khan and former fire trainer Mohammad Shoaib assisted in searching for survivors and evacuating the injured.

IAMC in Action

• IAMC welcomed the Supreme Court of India’s decision to grant six months’ interim bail to human rights activist Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmed, both detained under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 protests against a discriminatory citizenship law in Delhi. Read our statement here.

What to Watch Next Week

• IAMC Minnesota Chapter will host an event titled “Community Resistance to Hate and Extremism” on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at the Islamic Center of Minnesota in Fridley. The programme will feature keynote speaker Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and guest of honor U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, alongside state senators Jim Abeler, Zainab Mohamed, Omar Fateh, and Zarina Baber. The event will include panel discussions with community leaders and experts, with lunch at 1:30 PM and the main session beginning at 2:00 PM.

The post IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (June 4, 2026) appeared first on IAMC.

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale granted relief to Saifi and Ahmed on May 22, while also referring to a larger bench the critical legal question of whether prolonged incarceration and delayed trials can justify the grant of bail despite the stringent statutory restrictions under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA.

“While we welcome this long-overdue relief for Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmed, we are compelled to remind the world that Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and other activists remain illegally and unjustly behind bars, imprisoned for over six years without trial,” said IAMC President Mohammed Jawad. “Their continued detention is a stain on India’s claim to democratic governance and judicial independence.”

Saifi, founder of the human rights organization United Against Hate, was arrested in February 2020 in connection with the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests and has spent more than six years in prison. He was reportedly tortured in police custody, suffering fractured bones in both legs. Throughout his incarceration, the trial in the case has not even commenced, and charges have yet to be framed against any of the 18 accused.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has listed Saifi as a victim of religious freedom violations in its database of religious prisoners of conscience.

IAMC notes with grave concern that despite this welcome development, fellow accused Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, both recognized internationally as prisoners of conscience, continue to languish in Tihar Jail. In January 2026, the Supreme Court denied bail to Khalid and Imam while granting bail to five other co-accused. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention subsequently declared Khalid’s detention arbitrary and in violation of international human rights law, calling on India to release him immediately.

“Bail is not justice, it is the bare minimum owed to individuals who have been denied their liberty for over half a decade without trial,” Jawad added. “The international community must continue to press India to uphold its constitutional and international obligations.”

The post IAMC Welcomes Supreme Court’s Order Granting Bail to Anti-CAA Activists Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmed appeared first on IAMC.

This week, anti-CAA activists Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmed were granted six-month interim bail by the Supreme Court. In West Bengal, the BJP-led government imposed cattle slaughter restrictions ahead of Eid al-Adha, ended minority welfare and madrasa assistance programmes, and mandated the singing of “Vande Mataram” in madrassas. A fact-finding report found selective arrests, custodial torture, and discriminatory policing against Muslims after violence in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa. In Jammu, demolition drives left tribal Muslim families homeless, while in Gujarat, a 70-year-old Muslim man died after being taken into custody. Elsewhere, clashes broke out during a demolition drive in Mumbai’s Bandra area, Muslim employees in a Dehradun shoe showroom were labelled “Jihadis” by Hindu extremists, Christian families in Chhattisgarh alleged discrimination and pressure to abandon their faith, two Muslim men in Uttar Pradesh were detained over an Eid-related WhatsApp status, the Supreme Court flagged low UAPA conviction rates in Jammu and Kashmir, and pro-Palestine groups raised concerns over suspected military-grade steel shipments from India to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

Top Stories

Anti-CAA activists Khalid Saifi, Tasleem Ahmed granted interim bail

The Supreme Court granted six-month interim bail to activists Tasleem Ahmed and Khalid Saifi, who have been incarcerated since February 2020, for protesting against the anti-Muslim Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The Delhi High Court granted bail to another activist, Salim Malik, in the same case.

BJP-ruled West Bengal govt imposes cattle slaughter rules, stops minority welfare schemes

The BJP-ruled West Bengal government has imposed stringent restrictions on cattle slaughter ahead of Eid al Adha celebrations. It has also decided to discontinue madrasa and minority welfare assistance programmes, while also making the singing of “Vande Mataram” mandatory in all madrassas across the state during morning assembly prayers.

Fact-finding report reports selective targeting of Muslims, custodial torture in Andhra Pradesh

A fact-finding report released by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has reported selective arrests, custodial torture, and discriminatory police action against Muslims following the violence that broke out at Almaspet Circle in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa city on 9 May over a naming dispute involving “Tipu Sultan Circle” and “Hanuman Circle.”

(Zahid Parwaz Choudhary)

Demolition drive in Jammu’s Sidhra leave dozens of tribal Muslim families homeless

Civic officials in Jammu and Kashmir demolished dozens of homes belonging to the Gujjar and Bakarwal families during a demolition drive in Jammu’s Sidhra area, leaving several tribal families homeless and triggering allegations that vulnerable Muslim communities were being selectively targeted.

70-year-old Muslim man dies after arrest, family alleges custodial violence

A 70-year-old Muslim man, Zaheer Shaikh, died after being taken into police custody in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city, triggering allegations of custodial violence, protests by residents, and renewed scrutiny over police conduct in cases linked to cattle slaughter accusations. Shaikh was detained in connection to a cattle slaughter case. His family has accused police personnel of subjecting him to physical assault and humiliation during custody.

Hate crimes and discrimination in India

This week, in Mumbai’s Bandra, clashes broke out during a demolition drive targeting structures, including huts and a mosque allegedly built on railway land, leaving several protesters injured. In Dehradun, Hindu extremists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal entered a shoes showroom and pasted “Jihadi” labels on Muslim employees. Meanwhile, Christian families in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district say that they have been denied access to water sources and livelihoods and pressured to abandon their faith. In Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur, two Muslim men were detained over a WhatsApp Eid al-Adha status that allegedly featured a cow image. Separately, the Supreme Court raised concerns over low conviction rates under the UAPA, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. Pro-Palestine activists warned over suspected military-grade steel shipments from India to Israel amid concerns over their possible use in the war in Gaza.

Resistance & Organizing

Nearly 200 academics seek revocation of student’s suspension over Kunan Poshpora discussion

A total of 179 professors and academicians wrote an open letter to Azim Premji University administration seeking the revocation of a two-year ban imposed on a student for participating in a discussion marking the anniversary of Kashmir’s Kunan Poshpora mass rape allegations.

Opposition lawmaker, CPIML challenge Bengal govt’s cattle slaughter restrictions

The Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation’s West Bengal unit and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra have separately approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the state government’s recent notification regulating cattle slaughter ahead of Eid al-Adha, arguing that the restrictions could impact religious practices and the rural economy.

Defender of the Week

This week, we’re spotlighting Khalid Saifi, for his sustained advocacy work and years-long legal ordeal tied to the aftermath of the 2020 Delhi violence cases. A co-founder of United Against Hate, Saifi helped organize against hate crimes and participated in protests against the anti-Muslim Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He was arrested in February 2020 and has now been granted a 6-month bail by the Supreme Court.

Voices from the Ground 

“We’re defending our “glorious” record on human rights abroad just 24 hours after the Supreme Court criticized its own verdict denying bail to Umar Khalid who has been jailed for over 5 years without trial. There are chief ministers who campaigned in recent elections while making the most vicious remarks targeting religious minorities. In Bengal, over 2.7 million valid voters were denied their basic right to vote in elections last month. Religious politics over food and dietary habits is being unleashed across the country. Sure, we can try to fool the world with carefully scripted diplomatic readouts but the truth cannot be hidden so easily.

–  Saket Gokhale, Former Rajya Sabha MP, TMC leader

IAMC in Action

• IAMC strongly condemned the horrific shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, a devastating act of violence and an apparent hate crime that targeted worshippers in a sacred space meant for prayer, reflection, and community. Read our statement here.

What to Watch Next Week

• IAMC Boston along with coalition partners ASDSA, BSAC and SAPAN have organized an event “ Stories the State Wants Erased” featuring Neha Dixit, award winning author and journalist.

The post IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (May 22, 2026) appeared first on IAMC.

“We mourn the loss of innocent lives and extend our deepest condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones. We pray for those injured and for all members of the San Diego Muslim community who are grieving and traumatized by this senseless act of hatred,” said IAMC President Mohammed Jawad.

“No one should have to fear for their lives while attending a mosque, church, synagogue, temple, or any other house of worship. An attack on one faith community is an attack on the fundamental American values of religious freedom, pluralism, and human dignity,” Jawad added.

IAMC stands in unwavering solidarity with the Muslim community in San Diego and with Muslim communities across the United States. This tragedy is a painful reminder that Islamophobia and religious bigotry continue to endanger lives and undermine the safety and rights of minority communities.

We urge political leaders, law enforcement, and civil society to confront anti-Muslim hatred with the seriousness it demands and to ensure that all communities are able to worship in peace and security.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this horrific attack.

The post IAMC Condemns Deadly Attack on Islamic Center of San Diego appeared first on IAMC.

This week, new data showed at least 13 Muslims killed in religiously motivated hate crimes in the first four months of 2026, including four deaths involving state actors. In Madhya Pradesh, Hindus began offering prayers at the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex after the High Court declared the site a temple and ended the arrangement allowing Friday prayers by Muslims. Across Mumbai, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, demolition drives razed homes in several Muslim-majority neighborhoods, displacing hundreds of families and threatening historic mosques. Incidents of vigilante violence also continued, with Muslim men assaulted in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh by Hindu extremist groups over allegations related to interfaith relationships and cow slaughter. Meanwhile, a series of administrative actions, from the possible exclusion of 2.7 million deleted voters from welfare schemes in West Bengal to madrassa funding freezes in Uttarakhand and hijab-related discrimination in Uttar Pradesh, further deepened concerns over the targeting and marginalization of Muslims across the country.

Top Stories

At least 13 Muslims killed in hate crimes in first quarter of 2026, four by state actors: Report

In the first four months of 2026, at least 13 Muslims, including two women, a 15-year-old boy, and a 65-year-old man, were killed by Hindu extremist non-state actors in religiously-motivated hate crimes across eight states, India Persecution Tracker data shows.

High Court illegally hands over  Kamal Maula mosque to Hindus

Hindus began offering prayers at the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, a day after the the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the site to be a temple and ended the arrangement that allowed Muslims to offer Friday prayers there, while directing the state government to consider allotting alternate land for the construction of a mosque. This follows a series of illegal court orders where Muslim places of worship have been converted into temples.

RSS seeks legitimacy abroad amid growing calls for sanctions over violence against minorities

After the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended targeted sanctions against the Hindu fascist paramilitary Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the group is sending its leaders on a PR offensive across the U.S., U.K., and Germany. Experts say the outreach is less about genuine dialogue and more about “damage control”, aimed at countering growing international scrutiny over allegations of long-standing involvement in violence against religious minorities.

Demolition drives target Muslim neighborhoods in Mumbai, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh

More than 100 houses in Darukhana, Mumbai, were demolished during an operation carried out by civic officials, leaving several families homeless ahead of the monsoon season. In the Muslim-majority Jaitpur area in Delhi, bulldozers flattened several homes, affecting hundreds of people. In Varanasi’s Muslim-majority Dalmandi area, at least 107 homes have been razed, and six mosques, including 226-Year-Old Mosque, face removal.

Muslim men assaulted by Hindu extremists in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh

A Muslim man was assaulted and publicly humiliated by a group identified as members of the Hindu militant group, Bajrang Dal, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, after he was found with a Hindu woman in a hotel room. Meanwhile, Hindu extremist cow vigilantes brutally assaulted three Muslim men over suspicion of transporting beef in Siwan, Bihar.

Hate crimes and discrimination in India

This week, in West Bengal, anxiety has deepened after the BJP government indicated that people whose names were deleted during the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls could be excluded from welfare schemes, affecting over 2.7 Million voters removed during the process. Meanwhile, ahead of Eid al-Adha, the state also banned public slaughter of cows, bulls, and buffaloes and made official certification mandatory for slaughter. In Uttarakhand, authorities froze funds for 23 madrassas in Haridwar amid an intensified crackdown over alleged irregularities, while in Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim teacher in Varanasi alleged pressure to remove her hijab to keep her job at a private school. Separately, in Sambhal district, three school staff members were suspended and an FIR filed after students were seen reciting the Urdu prayer during a morning assembly, triggering a political controversy online.

Resistance & Organizing

Befitting Response to Hindutva Leader’s Hatred: Mumbai Muslim Youth Feeds All

In a direct, compassionate response to a widely condemned act of communal hatred, a Muslim youth in Mumbai launched a free food distribution drive for people of all communities, aiming to promote inclusivity and unity. The initiative followed a recent incident in which Hindu extremist leader Pinky Chaudhary was seen in a viral video snatching a food plate from a Muslim man during a public event in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, stating, “No Muslim should eat our food.”

Defender of the Week

This week, we’re spotlighting Rejaz M. Sydeek, a 27-year-old student activist and independent journalist from Kerala, who has been at the forefront of documenting caste injustice and state repression. It has been one year since he was arrested and charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for making social media posts that criticized India’s Operation Sindoor. The activist has long campaigned for social justice and accountability from the state apparatus. He is a vocal critic of human rights abuses and a pro-Palestinian organiser.

Voices from the Ground 

“The verdict delivered by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in the Bhojshala–Kamal Maula Mosque case has caused immense concern and shock… It is even more concerning that the judgment appears to have relied on the Ayodhya verdict as a precedent, despite the Supreme Court treating that case as exceptional in nature. Dismissing the historical prayer rights of the Muslim community and suggesting alternate land instead is incompatible with the principles of justice and equality. The historical and religious rights of a community cannot be compensated merely through the allotment of alternate land.”

– M. H. Jawahirullah, Tamil Nadu MLA

IAMC in Action

• A coalition of leading civil rights and advocacy organizations, including IAMC condemned the Hudson Institute for platforming senior leaders of India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a foreign organization that a U.S. congressionally-mandated federal panel has explicitly called to be sanctioned for its role in religious persecution of minorities in India. Read the statement here. 
• IAMC’s Executive Director Rasheed Ahmed published an OpeEd on VHPA’s connection to Hindu nationalists. Read here.

What to Watch Next Week

• IAMC Boston along with coalition partners ASDSA, BSAC and SAPAN have organized an event “ Stories the State Wants Erased” featuring Neha Dixit, award winning author and journalist.

The post IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (May 16, 2026) appeared first on IAMC.

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.

The post Newsletter (April 2026): Coalition Victories, Queens of Islam Podcast, and More appeared first on IAMC.

This week, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held an in-person hearing on religious freedom conditions in India. In India, post-election violence in West Bengal left at least five political workers dead amid clashes, vandalism, and communal tensions following the BJP’s landmark victory in the state. The Union Cabinet also moved to criminalise insulting or disrupting the singing of Vande Mataram, raising concerns over free expression and religious freedom, while the Allahabad High Court granted bail to a Muslim man jailed for seven months over an “I Love Muhammad” social media post. Elsewhere, an elderly Muslim hawker in Uttar Pradesh was allegedly assaulted and told to “Go to Pakistan,” as reports of housing discrimination, demolitions in Muslim-majority areas, and protests over eviction notices added to growing fears of systemic targeting and intimidation of Muslims across the country.

Top Stories

USCIRF Holds In-Person Hearing on Religious Freedom Conditions in India

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held an in-person hearing on religious freedom conditions in India. Witnesses addressed the continued persecution of religious minorities in India including Christians, Muslims, and Sikhs. They examined the increasing role of transnational repression to target religious minorities beyond India’s borders.

Bengal Erupts After BJP Victory; 2 Dead, Hundreds Arrested in Post-Poll Violence

West Bengal witnessed widespread violence after the BJP’s sweeping Assembly election victory, with at least five political workers killed and clashes, vandalism, and communal tensions reported across several districts. Police have registered over 200 FIRs and arrested 433 people as allegations of targeted attacks, forced shop closures, and intimidation continue to surface.

 India Moves to Criminalise Refusing or Disrupting ‘Vande Mataram’

India’s Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to make insulting or obstructing the singing of “Vande Mataram” a punishable offence. The law already criminalises insults to the national anthem, flag, and Constitution, carrying penalties of up to three years in prison. The move is expected to deepen concerns over freedom of expression and religious rights, particularly among Muslim groups that have long objected to the song’s Hindu religious imagery and compulsory use.

(PTI)

“I Love Muhammad” Post Leads to Seven Months Jail in India

The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to a Muslim man who spent nearly seven months in jail over a social media post linked to the “I Love Muhammad” campaign, a Muslim expression of faith that grew into an act of defiance after Hindu extremist groups objected to its public display in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Elderly Muslim hawker assaulted and robbed, alleges communal abuse

An elderly Muslim hawker, Maqsood Ali, was allegedly assaulted, robbed, and subjected to communal slurs in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh district. The attacker abused Ali, pulled his beard, snatched his skullcap, beat him with sticks and rods, threatened and looted him, and told him to “Go to Pakistan.”

Hate crimes and discrimination in India

This week, in Uttarakhand’s Rudrapur, a Muslim man alleged that local leaders stopped him from building a home on legally purchased land, reportedly declaring that “no Muslim shall reside” in the area, while in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain, demolition drives in the Muslim-majority Begum Bagh locality left families fearful and uncertain after five buildings were razed. Meanwhile, protests erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal after Muslim families were ordered to vacate government housing, and violence broke out at the University of Hyderabad after a student theatre performance critical of caste hierarchy and campus politics was allegedly disrupted by members linked to the Hindu extremist student group ABVP.

Resistance & Organizing

APCR Launches Website to Track Hate Crimes in India

The Association for the Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) launched a new website to document and track hate crimes in India, amid growing concerns over rising incidents of communal violence and hate speech.The platform, apcrhct.org, allows citizens to report incidents through a detailed online form.

AIMPLB Opposes Union Govt’s Move on “Vande Mataram”, Calls It Violation of Religious Freedom

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) strongly opposed the Union Cabinet’s decision to grant ‘Vande Mataram’ the same legal protection as the national anthem. The Board called the move unconstitutional and argued that several stanzas of the song contain references to Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities, which it said conflict with Islamic beliefs regarding the oneness of God.

Defenders of the Week

This week, we’re featuring Fathima Thahiliya, who made history by defeating senior CPI(M) leader T. P. Ramakrishnan in Kerala’s Perambra constituency, a long-time Left stronghold, winning by over 5,000 votes. A lawyer practising at the Calicut District Court and a State Secretary of the Muslim Youth League, Thahiliya faced intense misogynistic and Islamophobic online abuse throughout her campaign, with attackers targeting her hijab, faith, and identity as a young Muslim woman in politics. Despite coordinated cyber harassment and attempts to communalise her candidacy through the “Kauminte Kutti” controversy, she emerged victorious, marking a significant breakthrough for Muslim women’s political representation in Kerala.

Voices from the Ground 

“Targeted violence against Muslims after the Bengal election results exposes the complete failure of the state to protect its own citizens. Political victory is being turned into a license for mobs to attack homes, threaten families, and terrorize minorities while authorities look away. If perpetrators continue to enjoy impunity, this normalization of anti-Muslim violence will only grow more dangerous for the future of democracy and rule of law.

–  Mohammad Jawed, Congress leader

IAMC in Action

• A coalition of leading civil rights and advocacy organizations, including IAMC condemned the Hudson Institute for platforming senior leaders of India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a foreign organization that a U.S. congressionally-mandated federal panel has explicitly called to be sanctioned for its role in religious persecution of minorities in India. Read the statement here. 
• IAMC’s Executive Director Rasheed Ahmed published an OpeEd on VHPA’s connection to Hindu nationalists. Read here.

What to Watch Next Week

• IAMC Boston along with coalition partners ASDSA, BSAC and SAPAN have organized an event “ Stories the State Wants Erased” featuring Neha Dixit, award winning author and journalist, happening on May 2, 2026.

The post IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (May 8, 2026) appeared first on IAMC.

This week, a coalition of civil rights groups condemned a U.S.-based policy forum for hosting leaders linked to the fascist paramilitary group RSS, while India dropped to 157 in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, with the report flagging growing Islamophobia in media narratives. In West Bengal, the chief minister alleged attempts by the BJP to rig the ongoing elections. A man accused in the killing of a Muslim woman in Bihar has been granted bail despite allegations of severe religious humiliation, and authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have demolished a madrasa and a Muslim shrine as part of actions against alleged “illegal” structures. A series of incidents further underscore patterns of violence and discrimination: a Muslim cleric was allegedly killed after being thrown from a moving train, a fruit truck transporting goods was attacked leaving one man critically injured, over 150 Muslim children aged 6 to 15 travelling to madrasas were detained on suspicion of child labour with families alleging bias, housing discrimination surfaced through posters discouraging property sales to Muslims, a court denied employment-related clearance to a Muslim man acquitted in a terror case, another court criticized selective institutional action on madrasas over mob violence, and a madrasa in Jammu and Kashmir was banned under anti-terror legislation.

Top Stories

Coalition Condemns Platforming of RSS Leaders at Hudson Institute

A coalition of leading civil rights and advocacy organizations, including IAMC condemned the Hudson Institute for platforming senior leaders of India’s Hindu fascist paramilitary group  Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a foreign organization that a U.S. congressionally-mandated federal panel has explicitly called to be sanctioned for its role in religious persecution of minorities in India.

India slips to 157 in World Press Freedom Index, report flags growing Islamophobia

India was ranked 157 out of 180 countries with a score of 31.96 in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, slipping from 151 in 2025, with the report noting that “Hindu nationalist ideology has become a dominant force,” and that many media outlets devote significant airtime to religious content, “openly advocating hatred of Muslims.”

(PTI)

Mamata Banerjee Accuses BJP of Trying to “Rig” West Bengal Elections

West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of attempting to rig the West Bengal assembly elections, alleging that centrally deployed security forces and election observers were operating at the BJP’s direction. The accusations come amid mounting concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which removed over 9 million names, roughly 12% of the state’s electorate, from voter rolls.

Bihar: Man Accused in Muslim Woman’s Killing Granted Bail

In Bihar’s Madhubani, accused Maganoo Singh has been granted bail in connection with the death of Roshan Khatoon, who died after an alleged assault. Her family has alleged that she was also subjected to religious humiliation during the attack and forced to consume alcohol mixed with urine. Singh’s supporters were seen publicly celebrating his release.

Officials Demolish Madrasa in Uttar Pradesh, Muslim Shrine in Uttarakhand

In Uttar Pradesh’s Khalilabad, officials demolished an Islamic seminary (madrasa), claiming it was built without proper approval. Meanwhile, a Muslim shrine has been demolished in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district, the latest in a state-wide campaign targeting what officials describe as illegal religious structures on government land.

Hate crimes and discrimination in India

A Muslim cleric from Bihar was allegedly killed after being assaulted and thrown from a moving train near Bareilly railway station, while in a separate incident, two Muslim men were attacked by a group of cow vigilantes while transporting fruit, leaving one critically injured. In Madhya Pradesh’s Katni, 155 Muslim students and eight teachers travelling from Bihar to schools and madrasas were detained by the Railway Police, with parents alleging religious profiling and delayed release. Meanwhile, a video of Dr Udita Tyagi, associated with the BJP, making derogatory remarks about Muslims at an event in Meerut has drawn backlash online, and in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad, posters discouraging residents from selling homes to Muslims have raised concerns over discrimination. The Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition by a Muslim man acquitted in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks who sought a police clearance certificate for employment, while the Allahabad High Court criticized the National Human Rights Commission for ordering a probe into 558 madrasas but not taking suo motu action in cases of mob violence against Muslims. Additionally, the administration in Jammu and Kashmir has banned Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom in Shopian under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Resistance & Organizing

AIMPLB Opposes Uttarakhand Madrasa Bill, Calls It Violation of Religious Freedom

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) opposed the Uttarakhand government’s proposed madrasa regulation law, saying it violates the constitutional rights of religious minorities and interferes with their autonomy. In a statement, the Board said that the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and gives minorities the right to run their own educational institutions. It argued that any attempt to control how madrasas function goes against these protections.

Defenders of the Week

This week, we’re featuring Soumya, a 23-year-old from Noida, who intervened when a man allegedly harassed a Muslim couple in Noida, questioning the burqa-clad woman’s identity. She confronted him, asked who gave him the authority to demand ID, and later shared a video of the incident on Instagram. While initially praised, she has since faced rape and death threats online. Speaking to Newslaundry, she said that calling her “anti-Hindu” for defending the couple misrepresents her faith, adding that Hinduism teaches helping others.

Voices from the Ground 

“Yesterday, the Bombay High Court discharged four men accused of carrying out the 2006 Malegaon Blasts. The accused all allegedly belonged to Abhinav Bharat. The explosions claimed 31 lives and injured 312. The blasts specifically targeted Muslims. Yet, maybe out of habit, the investigation agencies first arrested nine Muslims, who were eventually acquitted in 2016. In yesterday’s order, the High Court criticized the NIA for its botched investigation…This will be yet another terror attack where we will not even see its perpetrators being punished. To be a Muslim in India is to only wait for justice.

–  Asaduddin Owaisi MP, AIMIM chief

IAMC in Action

• A coalition of leading civil rights and advocacy organizations, including IAMC condemned the Hudson Institute for platforming senior leaders of India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a foreign organization that a U.S. congressionally-mandated federal panel has explicitly called to be sanctioned for its role in religious persecution of minorities in India. Read the statement here.
• IAMC’s Executive Director Rasheed Ahmed published an OpeEd on VHPA’s connection to Hindu nationalists. Read here.

What to Watch Next Week

• IAMC Boston along with coalition partners ASDSA, BSAC and SAPAN have organized an event “ Stories the State Wants Erased” featuring Neha Dixit, award winning author and journalist, happening on May 2, 2026. Register here.

The post IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (May 1, 2026) appeared first on IAMC.

A coalition of leading civil rights and advocacy organizations today condemned the Hudson Institute for platforming senior leaders of India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a foreign organization that a U.S. congressionally-mandated federal panel has explicitly called to be sanctioned for its role in religious persecution of minorities in India.

The coalition said the decision to host RSS leaders at Hudson’s April 23 India Conference raises serious concerns not only about human rights, but also about U.S. national security, given the organization’s deep links to a political ecosystem now under scrutiny for transnational repression activities in North America.

In its March 4, 2026 report, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom—a bipartisan body established by Congress—recommended targeted sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for systematic violations of religious freedom in India. The report explicitly called for sanctions against the RSS.

“Hudson Institute is providing a prestigious platform to a foreign organization that a U.S. government body has called to be sanctioned. This raises profound questions about judgment, accountability, and the normalization of extremism in Washington policy circles,” the coalition said.

The coalition further noted that the RSS is the ideological core of a network that has been widely documented as enabling violence and discrimination against Muslims and Christians, and that it is historically linked to the extremist milieu from which emerged Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.

Additionally, the coalition pointed to recent cases of transnational repression involving actors tied to the same political ecosystem. 

In February 2026, Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen in U.S. custody, pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal case involving a murder-for-hire plot targeting a U.S. citizen, which prosecutors said was directed by an Indian government official.

Canadian authorities have also publicly claimed that the Indian government-linked operatives have carried out killings, arson and extortion in that country.

“At a time when credible allegations of state-linked violence have extended beyond national borders, platforms like Hudson must exercise far greater responsibility in whom they choose to legitimize,” the coalition said.

The coalition emphasized that think tanks such as the Hudson Institute play a significant role in shaping U.S. foreign policy discourse, informing lawmakers, and influencing public understanding of global issues. Providing a platform to actors associated with documented patterns of rights violations and emerging national security concerns risks undermining those very policy objectives.

The coalition called on the Hudson Institute to reconsider its decision and urged policymakers, media, and civil society leaders to critically examine the implications of engaging with organizations and individuals linked to religious persecution and transnational repression.

Signatories

• Indian American Muslim Council
• Hindus for Human Rights
• The Sikh Coalition
• Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
• Dalit Solidarity Forum
• Save America From Hindutva
• The Religious Nationalisms Project
• No Hindutva Maryland
• Equitas Forum USA

Indian American Muslim Council ( IAMC )

The post Coalition Condemns Hudson Institute for Platforming Indian Extremist Group Blamed by U.S. Commission for Violence Against Minorities appeared first on IAMC.