India: JIH slams detention of 28 Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, calls for immediate release
Malik Motassim Khan, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), India, has vehemently condemned the detention of 28 Bengali-speaking Muslims from Assam’s Barpeta district, who were unjustly declared foreigners by a Foreigners Tribunal.
He denounced the labelling of these individuals as “illegal” and “doubtful voters” as derogatory and dehumanising, emphasising the Muslim community’s plight.
Khan highlighted the detainees’ vulnerable backgrounds, noting they mostly come from impoverished, marginalised communities and lacked adequate legal representation, leading to their wrongful detention.
He also expressed concerns about the Foreigners Tribunals’ functioning, alleging arbitrary and politically motivated judgments.
Khan stated, “We vehemently condemn the unjust treatment of these 28 Bengali-speaking Muslims, who were declared foreigners and sent to transit camps. This is a gross violation of their fundamental human rights and a clear example of selective application of the law.”
He added that: “The targeting of Muslims, particularly Miya Muslims, in this process is disproportionate. While the Assam NRC identified two-thirds of those marked as foreigners as Hindus and one-third as Muslims, the enforcement has overwhelmingly targeted Muslims,” Khan remarked.
He demanded the immediate release of the 28 detainees and a halt to the ongoing proceedings before the Foreigners Tribunals. “This is not due process of law and goes against India’s judicial principles,” Khan emphasised.
