IAMC Condemns Police Brutality and Killing of Muslim Protesters in Uttar Pradesh

Washington, D.C. (November 25, 2024) – The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) unequivocally condemns the brutal killing of three Muslim men—Naeem, Noman, and Bilal—by the Uttar Pradesh police during a peaceful protest against the survey of the historic Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, India.



Eyewitness accounts from Muslim demonstrators confirm that the victims were fatally shot when police opened fire on the crowd. The protest was organized in opposition to an archaeological survey of the mosque, which was initiated under pressure from Hindu supremacist groups. These groups frequently weaponize such surveys to advance baseless claims that historic mosques were constructed over demolished Hindu temples, calling for their seizure and transfer to Hindu control.



The killings occur amidst widespread reports of voter suppression targeting Muslims in at least nine constituencies across Uttar Pradesh. Incidents include police pointing guns at Muslim women and using batons to intimidate and disperse voters. Uttar Pradesh, governed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and led by Yogi Adityanath, a militant monk-turned-chief minister, has long been a flashpoint for anti-Muslim violence and systemic discrimination.



In recent years, the state has seen punitive demolitions of Muslim properties, beef-related lynchings, the passage of discriminatory laws, the filing of bogus legal cases to claim historic mosques, and the weaponization of religious festivals to target Muslim neighborhoods.



“This tragedy highlights the grim reality of unchecked violence against Muslims in Uttar Pradesh,” said IAMC Executive Director Rasheed Ahmed. “We demand justice for Naeem, Noman, and Bilal, whose families are grappling with unimaginable loss. The killings, combined with alarming reports of voter suppression, underscore the need for an independent investigation into the systemic discrimination and violence against Muslims by the state.”



IAMC calls on global human rights organizations, civil society groups, and the international community to press for accountability and justice. The systemic targeting of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh cannot be ignored.