CAIR calls on Washington to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” over Islamophobia and targeting of minorities
WASHINGTON — A prominent US-based Muslim civil rights group has urged the US government to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” over escalating Islamophobia and the large-scale demolition of Muslim homes.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged the State Department to hold India accountable for what it described as systematic targeting of the Muslim community under the present BJP government.
“India’s far-right government has been escalating its attacks on Indian Muslims,” said CAIR’s National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “Violence and ethnic cleansing are becoming more common.”
“For years, the (Narendra) Modi government has been demolishing Muslim-owned homes and properties, in what critics say is a collective punishment,” the statement said.
CAIR’s appeal follows reports that more than 8,500 Muslim-owned homes were destroyed in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city last month, as part of the state’s “anti-encroachment” drive. Critics have condemned the demolition campaign, which has left thousands of families homeless, as a form of collective punishment.
CAIR claims the demolition campaign is part of a broader pattern of discrimination and persecution. “It is time for the State Department to recognise India as a country of particular concern and take action to stop the Modi government from continuing its violence against Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and other minorities,” Awad said.
Tensions have grown in recent years as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has faced criticism for policies that many say marginalise religious minorities. In April, the Indian Parliament passed controversial amendments to Waqf property legislation, sparking protests and legal challenges. Opponents argue the changes are designed to alter the composition of Waqf boards, allowing greater government control and potentially appointing non-Muslims to positions traditionally held by Muslims.
India is home to an estimated 200 million Muslims, comprising about 14% of the population. Many live in economically and socially marginalised communities and have reported an increase in hate crimes and discrimination in recent years.
