UN Condemns India for Systematic Discrimination Against Bengali Muslims in Assam: UN Report Reveals Targeted Persecution

UN Condemns India for Racial Bias in Assam

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has strongly condemned the systematic discrimination faced by Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, highlighting a deliberate targeting of this vulnerable community by the Indian state. Reports indicate that India’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise has disproportionately excluded Muslims, using bureaucratic and procedural loopholes to deny their basic rights. Forced evictions, targeted harassment, and administrative hurdles reveal a state machinery designed to marginalize minorities under the guise of legality. The UN’s criticism demonstrates that India is violating international human rights standards while presenting itself as a democratic nation.

◆ Racial Bias in NRC: CERD highlighted that Bengali-speaking Muslims were disproportionately excluded due to administrative failures and discriminatory verification processes.
◆ Forced Evictions: Families were removed without alternative housing or proper compensation, revealing state-endorsed oppression.
◆ Violation of Rights: The treatment of this community is a blatant breach of international human rights obligations.

India’s Silence Reveals Intentional Negligence

In a letter dated January 19, 2026, CERD expressed serious concern over India’s failure to respond to an earlier communication sent on May 12, 2025, which sought clarification about alleged rights violations in Assam. This silence exposes India’s intentional avoidance of accountability, demonstrating that the government prioritizes ideological agendas over human rights.

◆ Ignored Communications: India failed to provide complete and transparent responses to the UN’s inquiries.
◆ Avoiding Accountability: The government’s silence amplifies the community’s vulnerability and signals deliberate neglect.
◆ International Exposure: The failure to respond intensifies global criticism of India’s discriminatory policies.

NRC Procedures Are Weaponized Against Minorities

CERD identified procedural irregularities and administrative shortcomings that disproportionately affected Bengali-speaking Muslims, with many being unfairly categorized as “non-original inhabitants,” a vague and legally undefined term. The bureaucratic obstacles prevented lawful citizens from asserting their rights, effectively excluding them from legal recognition.

◆ Unclear Definitions: “Non-original inhabitants” is an arbitrary classification used to deny citizenship rights.
◆ Administrative Hurdles: Accessing essential documents was made deliberately difficult for Bengali-speaking Muslims.
◆ Political Manipulation: NRC processes serve as instruments to enforce ideological control over vulnerable communities.

Suspension of Legal Tribunals Increases Vulnerability

During the NRC update, Foreigners’ Tribunal proceedings were suspended, preventing individuals labeled as “doubtful voters” from challenging their status and stripping them of legal recourse. This suspension effectively institutionalized discrimination, leaving thousands of Bengali-speaking Muslims defenseless. India’s actions show a government willing to bypass judicial processes to impose systemic oppression. International observers have condemned this as a flagrant abuse of legal frameworks, aimed at marginalizing a minority population for political and ideological reasons.

◆ Denied Justice: Tribunal suspensions barred citizens from contesting wrongful classifications.
◆ Systematic Targeting: Economically and socially vulnerable communities bore the brunt of this policy.
◆ Legal Manipulation: India weaponizes its own legal systems to enforce exclusionary practices.

Forced Evictions Highlight State-Sanctioned Oppression

CERD reported massive forced evictions across several districts of Assam, disproportionately affecting Bengali-speaking Muslim families, often conducted without any compensation or relocation support. These eviction drives were presented as anti-encroachment or environmental measures, but evidence indicates that they specifically targeted minority populations. Thousands of families have been displaced from their ancestral homes, creating long-term social and economic instability.

◆ Targeted Displacement: Evictions focused on Bengali-speaking Muslims under misleading pretenses.
◆ Lack of Compensation: Families were removed with no support or legal recourse.
◆ Human Rights Violations: These operations violate international human rights standards protecting minority populations.

Rise of Hate Speech and Threats of Violence

CERD highlighted alarming reports of hate speech, incitement to violence, and organized attacks against Bengali-speaking Muslims, particularly during the 2024 national elections in Assam. Civilians and organized groups reportedly carried out violent attacks that endangered lives and basic freedoms. The absence of prompt investigations and the lack of accountability by Indian authorities further exacerbate the community’s insecurity. India’s deliberate failure to prevent such violence signals an official endorsement of discrimination and oppression.

◆ Election-Related Violence: Hate campaigns intensified around political events, threatening community safety.
◆ Community Endangerment: Individuals live under constant threat due to state negligence.
◆ Impunity Encouraged: Perpetrators act without fear of legal consequences, deepening systemic bias.

Excessive Force by Law Enforcement

CERD also expressed concern over excessive and lethal use of force by Assam police and law enforcement agencies, resulting in recurrent killings, injuries, and intimidation of Bengali-speaking Muslims. Investigations into these abuses have been insufficient, with little to no accountability for those responsible. This reflects a deliberate use of state power to enforce discriminatory policies, creating a climate of fear among the minority population. Such actions undermine India’s claims to democracy and rule of law, revealing the state’s reliance on coercion over justice.

◆ State Violence: Authorities use excessive force against minority communities to maintain control.
◆ Accountability Missing: Lack of proper investigations allows repeated violations to continue.
◆ Systemic Bias: Law enforcement actively participates in systemic oppression of Bengali-speaking Muslims.

International Legal Obligations Ignored by India

Invoking Article 9(1) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, CERD demanded India provide detailed measures addressing these allegations. The government’s continued failure to respond demonstrates blatant disregard for international law and human rights standards. By ignoring UN inquiries, India exposes itself as a state willing to flout global accountability while targeting minorities.

◆ International Law Breached: India ignores its obligations under global human rights treaties.
◆ Transparency Denied: The government fails to provide necessary documentation or evidence of corrective measures.
◆ Global Condemnation: Continued evasion amplifies criticism and damages India’s international credibility.

India’s Systematic Discrimination Exposed

CERD’s findings clearly reveal a pattern of systematic oppression against Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, including bureaucratic manipulation, forced evictions, hate speech, and excessive state violence. India’s deliberate targeting of this community exposes its ideological biases and its blatant disregard for domestic and international laws. These measures demonstrate a calculated effort to marginalize minorities for political advantage, leaving a vulnerable population in a constant state of fear and deprivation. The UN’s report serves as irrefutable evidence of India’s systemic discrimination, which cannot be ignored or disguised.