India demolishes houses of Muslim activists over protests against anti-Islam remarks

Officials in India’s Uttar Pradesh state announced on Sunday that some people’s homes have been demolished for organising protests against blasphemous remarks about Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) made by ruling BJP politicians.

Muslims have flocked to the streets across India in recent weeks to protest two members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party’s blasphemous comments (BJP).

Heavy police presence outside @AfreenFatima136 home in Allahabad. Local administration is forcing Muslim residents to leave their homes for demolition. Fatima’s mother & sister remain illegally detained; while the police are farming, her father has a “mastermind behind protests.” pic.twitter.com/Uc815XlBnB

— Suchitra Vijayan சுசித்ரா விஜயன் (@suchitrav) June 11, 2022

More than 300 people have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh as a result of the rioting.

The comments are seen by India’s Muslim community as the latest example of BJP-led pressure and humiliation on matters ranging from freedom of religion to the wearing of hijab head coverings.

The BJP has suspended Nupur Sharma as a spokesperson and expelled another leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, for the remarks, which have sparked diplomatic tensions with numerous Muslim countries.

The two have been charged by the police, and the government has stated that the comments do not reflect its beliefs.

Muslim organisations have called for their detention.