Dear John,

India's slide into a majoritarian ethno-religious state continues with the recent killing of Muslim protestors and demolition of their family homes. Following recent derogatory remarks against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made by members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), two Muslim teenagers have been killed by the police with hundreds arrested arbitrarily. These are just the latest instances of the Indian government's campaign of oppression, xenophobia, and discrimination against Muslims and other minorities.

While the international community has largely remained silent on the plight of religious and ethnic minorities in India, we are proud to announce to our communities that members of Congress are currently taking action. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar - along with Congress members Rashida Tlaib, Jim McGovern, and Juan Vargas - has introduced - H.RES.1196: Condemning human rights violations and violations of international religious freedom in India, including those targeting Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Adivasis, and other religious and cultural minorities.

If passed, this resolution will:

• Condemn human rights violations and violations of international religious freedom in India, including those targeting Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Adivasis, and other religious and cultural minorities.
• Express grave concern about the worsening treatment of religious minorities in India.
• Call on the Secretary of State to designate India as a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016.

The two teenagers, Mudasir, 14 (left), and Sahil Ansari (right), 19, were killed as police cracked down on protesters. Their families confirmed their deaths, alleging the police used "disproportionate force against the protesters." 

Authorities have also scaled up their attacks by demolishing the homes of activists and protestors. Afreen Fatima is a young Muslim activist whose house was demolished in Prayagraj, formerly Allahabad, by authorities as an "act of revenge" following her participation in the same protests.

Within hours, Afreen's home was reduced to rubble and her family's belongings thrown out. The Muslim world has demanded and apology, but Muslims in India see this as yet another example of right wing hate speech by the BJP.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, an alt-right Hindu nationalist monk in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, ordered authorities to demolish any and all “illegal” establishments of people accused of involvement in the protests. At least two other homes belonging to Muslims were demolished.

Aakar Patel, Chair of Amnesty International India Board, commented:

"The Government of India is selectively and viciously cracking down on Muslims who dare to speak up and peacefully express their dissent against the discrimination faced by them … Cracking down on protesters with excessive use of force, arbitrary detention and punitive house demolitions by Indian authorities is in complete violation of India’s commitments under international human rights law and standards."

What's happening:

Despite being home to over 200 million Muslims, 2000 ethnic groups, and adherents to every major religion in the world, the secular foundation of India is crumbling. The establishment of Hindutva by the BJP as a national philosophy presents the deterioration of India’s identity as a democracy and a non-acceptance of India’s multifarious population. Far-right prejudices have become embedded in independent institutions, the police, and the justice system. Most importantly, Hindu nationalism has given rise to extremism and sectarian violence, with nationalist groups threatening, intimidating, and attacking religious minorities, mainly Muslims. The BJP has undoubtedly incited this violence through inflammatory rhetoric.

HINDUTVA:

Reminiscent of European fascistic movements of the early and mid 1900s, Hindutva can be described as a right-wing extremist philosophy adhering to a concept of homogenized majority and cultural hegemony of the Hindu population in India. Hindutva has also been described as religious absolutism.

BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (BJP):

The BJP, a right-wing and Hindu nationalist party, has been the ruling political party of India since 2014, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party shares ideological ties and works in conjunction with the RSS and is committed to Hindutva.

RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH (RSS):

Founded on 27 September, 1925, the RSS is a right-wing, paramilitary, and Hindu nationalist umbrella organization dedicated to forming a Hindu nation. The RSS was born out of inspiration from European right-wing groups during World War II, such as the Nazis and Italian Fascist Party. The organization was outlawed three times, most prominently in 1948 when an RSS member assassinated Gandhi.

POTENTIALITY FOR GENOCIDE:

Genocide Watch has outlined that India is showing early “signs and processes” of genocide, specifically within the State of Assam and Indian-administered Kashmir.

The Republic of India has stood on secular principles that aim to provide equal protection to all religious and ethnic groups. 2014 marked a major shift when the BJP became the ruling part of India, bringing right-wing Hindu nationalism into the mainstream experience. In conjunction with the BJP, the RSS organization, a closely affiliated paramilitary group, has worked systematically to shift India from a secular country to a nation that promotes Hindutva  – an ideology seeking the hegemony of Hindus.  

Emgage and our partnering organizations are calling on Congress to support this resolution (H.RES.1196) and send a message of condemnation regarding the Indian government's human rights abuses.

Sincerely,

Wa'el Alzayat

Emgage Action CEO

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