India a dangerous, violent place for Muslims under Modi government, says minorities report

According to the South Asia State of Minority Report 2020, ever since the BJP-led government in India amended the citizenship law, India has “become a dangerous and violent place for Muslim minorities.” This report, released annually, assesses the expression and personal freedom of minority citizens living in South Asia. These reports have been prepared to cover Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The report says that while civil rights are threatened all over the world, changes in India in a few years ring a danger bell. Which has happened at an unusual pace. The report states that “India has become a dangerous and violent place for Muslims”. The CAA law passed in December 2019 does not include Muslims within the purview of the law. With the passing of the law, the government had also indicated to bring NRC, which would drive many Muslims out of the country.

The report said that since 2014, since the BJP came to power, there have been attacks on religious minorities, this has clearly affected the rights and expression of Muslims and Muslim organizations in India. The report said that the situation has worsened since the BJP returned to power in May 2019 with a “strong majority”. Changes have been made in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, which regulates foreign donations to institutions in India.

The report also found that Muslim actors, human rights lawyers, activists, protestors, academics, journalists, intellectuals who speak out against the government have been subjected to “rapid attacks” in India. The report states that human rights activists are facing sanctions, violence, criminal defamation, detention and harassment.