Muslims Face Targeting in India’s Political Arena and Abroad in U.S. Policing Incident

Two recent incidents—one in India and another in the United States—have sparked concerns over the targeting of Muslims in political and social contexts.

In Assam, the Indian National Congress lodged a police complaint against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of circulating an AI-generated video that allegedly portrayed Muslims in a negative light. Shared on the Assam BJP’s official social media handle under the title “Assam without BJP”, the video depicted Muslim men in skull caps, women in burqas, and scenes implying “beef legalisation” while suggesting an exaggerated Muslim population share. It also linked Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Gaurav Gogoi with Pakistan’s imagery.

The Congress charged that the video promoted communal fear, hatred, and violence, violating the Model Code of Conduct and laws against hate speech. Assam Congress leaders said it deliberately attempted to polarize society by projecting Muslims as a threat. Police confirmed receiving the complaint on September 18, though no First Information Report has yet been filed.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the family of Mohammed Nizamuddin, a 29-year-old software professional from Telangana, alleged racial discrimination after he was shot dead by police in Santa Clara, California, on September 3. Police claimed he attacked a roommate and ignored warnings, but his family said he had faced harassment from co-tenants, wrongful termination, and mistreatment in the U.S. They urged the Indian government to press for a full investigation and help repatriate his body.