IAMC Report: State of Religious Minorities in India (December 2021 – January 2022)
By Noelle Jones
Since the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014, the influence of Hindutva ideology and the militant Hindu nationalist groups has grown stronger in India, resulting in the intensification of discrimination and violence targeting religious minorities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, etc). The events of December 2021 and January 2022 demonstrate a continuation of this pattern.
Utilizing news reports and data from human rights organizations, this report details the recent instances of hate speech advocating for genocide against Muslims and Christians as well as the instances of anti-Muslim and anti-Christian violence perpetrated by extremist Hindu groups over these past two months.
In order to address this escalating persecution of religious minorities, the report includes recommendations for the US government, international community, and India to de-escalate the situation and prevent impending mass categorical violence and genocide.
(Noelle Jones is a genocide researcher at the Indian American Muslim Council)
