Human Rights Abuses Against Minorities in India

The Karnataka High Court in India upheld a ban on hijab in educational institutions, ruling that it was not an essential religious practice under the Constitution. This decision followed clashes between students and authorities at multiple colleges when Muslim students attempted to enter classes wearing hijabs.
The Karnataka government had earlier issued orders restricting all religious attire that disturbed “uniformity and equality,” but critics said it violated religious freedom under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution. The case led to repeated protests and reported instances of harassment against Muslim girls trying to wear hijab to school.
Tags: religious discrimination, Muslim minorities, hijab ban, communal tension

On 9 December 2025 in Selaqui, Dehradun (Uttarakhand), 24-year-old MBA student Anjel Chakma from Tripura was assaulted by a group that hurled racial slurs at him and his brother because of their Northeastern appearance. He was stabbed and critically injured, and after 17 days in hospital, he died on 26 December 2025. Local student organisations and civil rights activists described the attack as rooted in racial prejudice against people from India’s Northeast. Protests and candle marches demanded justice and highlighted what they called a growing climate of hate against minorities.
This racially motivated assault reflects deep-rooted discrimination faced by Northeastern Indians living outside their home states and contributes to concerns that racially charged violence and abuse against minority communities in India are increasing.

In January 2026, India Hate Lab reported that 1,318 hate speech events targeting religious minorities occurred in India during 2025 — a 13 percent increase from 2024 and nearly double that of 2023. Most instances were documented against Muslims, with a significant rise in anti-Christian hate speech as well. The data showed such events took place across multiple states and in various settings including political rallies, religious processions, and public gatherings. Critics and rights organisations cited this trend as evidence of growing intolerance and community tensions.
This increase in hate speech incidents against minorities contributes to a broader pattern of heightened societal hostility and discrimination in India.