Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • World
  • Mid-East
  • Europe
  • Americas
  • Asia Pacific
  • Africa
  • Syrian Crisis
  • Islamophobia

Anti-Muslim violence in India does not come as a surprise

by Yusuf Selman İnanç

Feb 27, 2020 - 11:23 am GMT+3
A man carrying a child walks past security forces in a riot affected area following clashes between people demonstrating for and against a new citizenship law, New Delhi, Feb. 27, 2020. (REUTERS Photo)
A man carrying a child walks past security forces in a riot affected area following clashes between people demonstrating for and against a new citizenship law, New Delhi, Feb. 27, 2020. (REUTERS Photo)
by Yusuf Selman İnanç Feb 27, 2020 11:23 am

Indian capital, New Delhi witnessed the killing of Muslims and the setting of mosques on fire by Hindu mobs as the sectarian violence comes as a result of the government’s ongoing anti-Muslim policies

RECOMMENDED
Undated photo of a volcanic eruption at Anak Krakatau, Indonesia. (Shutterstock Photo)

Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano unleashes twin fury, dark cloud

anak-krakatau

India’s sectarian policies caused the death of dozens, the renewal of sectarian fights and the growing tensions between Muslims and Hindus. As more than 30 people were killed in New Delhi’s streets, there is fear and anger among Muslims as to why they were punished while prudent Hindus are astonished as they are aware that the sectarian escalation may lead to unwanted results. Revoke of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the anti-Muslim citizenship law and building detention camps for Bengalis in Assam are the first steps of the current Indian government to create a purified India, based on Hindu identity.

In New Delhi’s streets, Hindu protesters and mobs attacked Muslims, set a mosque on fire and killed many people. The incidents started during a demonstration, organized by Muslim groups against the so-called citizenship law. The law allows non-Muslim minorities to obtain Indian citizenship. It is considered as clear discrimination against Muslims. Also, the law is seen as a violation of secularism as the country's constitution declares that Indian citizenship cannot be based on religion. However, the populist politics of the current government have gradually led to an anti-Muslim stance in the country, including the demolishment of mosques.

India's new citizenship law came as an amendment of legislation dating back to 1995. While the law allows giving Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities like Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Afghanistan or China, Muslims are excluded. In a similar vein, the Bengali immigrants in Assam are not allowed to travel to or work in India. Instead, new detention camps are built to keep people there. Yet, this policy is seen as discriminatory against Muslims, too.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known for his anti-Muslim and strong nationalist stance, which causes fears among Indians since the country is an unprecedentedly multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. His decision to revoke the special status of Kashmir and Jammu was another provoking action. The special status granted to the region by the Indian constitution in 1954 was revoked and the Indian government decided that the region would be directly ruled by New Delhi as one of its provinces. This decision increased the tensions and fueled the sectarian hatred in the country.

The recent bout of sectarian violence occurred during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the country. Although Trump praised the ‘religious freedom’ in India, U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel said he was “deeply troubled” because of the deaths: “The right to protest is a key aspect of democracy, but they must remain peaceful and police must ensure the safety of all.” During the visit, Modi preferred not to mention the ongoing tension in the capital’s streets. His party spokesman Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga said they were not supporting any kind of violence. He claimed that the incidents were pre-planned as the government’s rivals tried to undermine its credibility during Trump’s visit. However, Delhi police were accused of not taking necessary measures and not even intervening in the incidents at the right time. Some activists claimed that the police looked away while people were killed. Some Muslims said the police were even helping the mobs.

RECOMMENDED
Undated photo of a volcanic eruption at Anak Krakatau, Indonesia. (Shutterstock Photo)

Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano unleashes twin fury, dark cloud

anak-krakatau
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Feb 27, 2020 6:30 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    india anti-muslim violence sectarianism mosque
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Man City's İlkay Gündoğan (R) and wife Sara Arfaoui (L) arrives at the wedding, Balıkesir, Turkey, July 3, 2022. (DHA Photo)

    Turkish German star Gündoğan ties the knot in hometown Dursunbey

    ilkay-gündoğan
    Pida, Türkiye's stuffed boat-shaped breads, taste great when filled with cheese and kabanossi sausage or a mix of paprika and minced meat. (dpa Photo)

    Making pizza at home? Try pide: Traditional Turkish flatbread

    food

    Historic Champions League final to see 1st 'Turkish player' lift cup

    UEFA-Champions-League

    Expat guide: An escape to Türkiye's resort paradise Datça

    EXPAT-CORNER
    No Image
    Inside besieged Mariupol
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021