Rising Pressures Threaten Religious Identity of Muslim Girls in India

Rising Pressures Threaten Religious Identity of Muslim Girls in India
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Muslim girls in India face increasing challenges threatening their religious and cultural identity amid the rise of nationalist movements promoting dominant Hindu cultural norms. These girls are often targeted as pivotal figures through whom the identity of entire families and communities can be influenced.

Media portrayals frequently depict Muslim girls as bound by tradition, while presenting those who abandon their Islamic identity as symbols of freedom, creating social pressures that may encourage gradual detachment from their faith.

A notable manifestation of this trend is “religious conversion marriage,” where Muslim girls wishing to marry Hindu men are pressured or required to convert to Hinduism, a tactic exploited by some hardline nationalist groups. Reports reveal various cases involving threats and family pressures, making marriage a systematic means to challenge religious identity.

The education system adds to this erosion, with secular curricula often omitting Islamic teachings and including Hindu texts, exposing Muslim girls to conflicting ideas. A 2018 study in Lucknow found over 60% of private school Muslim girls lacked access to Islamic religious education.

University cultural activities also pressure Muslim girls to engage in Hindu rituals or face social isolation, increasing risks of ideological alienation. Weak Islamic educational and social institutions fail to provide adequate support, leaving these girls vulnerable. Human rights reports emphasize the need for comprehensive institutional responses to safeguard the religious identity of Muslim girls in India.