Muslims in India continue to be targeted by ‘emboldened’ mobs under Modi 3.0
- Despite Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist BJP suffering a major electoral shock, coalition and opposition parties remain silent about the violence
Zakai Wali was at home after enjoying a lavish Eid meal on the evening of June 18 when her neighbours rushed over to show her a video in which her brother, 35-year-old Mohammad Fareed, was being lynched by a mob.
“Initially, I couldn’t comprehend what was going on. Why was my brother beaten so mercilessly? I just rushed to the spot,” Zakai told This Week in Asia.
The results, announced in early June, had led to hopes that the violence against Muslims and other minorities that marred Modi’s first two terms would die down. However, the attacks have persisted unabated while both the BJP’s coalition partners and opposition parties have largely remained silent.
Fareed, a resident of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, was reportedly lynched by people whom his family said they had known for years.
According to the family, Fareed was waylaid by a Hindu mob near his home as he was returning from work. The viral video of his lynching showed the mob, armed with sticks and iron rods, dragging Fareed through the streets, beating him to death.
“Nobody helped my brother. Instead, people were making videos of his death,” Zakai said. “How long do we [Muslims] have to go through these ordeals? How long will this lawlessness continue in this country?”
