New Delhi, Sep 5: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Vice President Malik Motasim Khan has strongly condemned the detention of 28 Bangla-speaking Muslims from Assam’s Barpeta district, who were declared as foreigners by a Foreigners Tribunal. Khan criticized the branding of these individuals as “illegal” and “doubtful voters,” describing such actions as deeply derogatory and dehumanizing towards the Muslim community.
“We vehemently condemn the unjust treatment of these 28 Bengali-speaking Muslims who have been wrongfully declared as foreigners and sent to transit camps. This is a blatant violation of their fundamental human rights and a clear case of selective law enforcement,” said Khan.
He highlighted that most of the detainees come from poverty-stricken, marginalized backgrounds and were not even aware of the cases against them, having been denied proper legal representation before the Foreigners Tribunal, which led to their inhumane detention.
Khan also raised concerns about the functioning of the Foreigners Tribunal, whose judgments he described as arbitrary and politically motivated.
“The current situation illustrates the disproportionate targeting of the Muslim community, particularly the Miya Muslims. The Assam NRC process revealed that while two-thirds of those identified as foreigners were Hindus, one-third were Muslims. Yet, the implementation of these laws has disproportionately targeted Muslims, resulting in the unjust harassment and detention of many within the community,” he stated.
The tribunal’s orders, Khan argued, are unacceptable as they undermine the legal rights and protections guaranteed to all citizens. “We demand the immediate release of all 28 individuals and an immediate halt to all proceedings before the Foreigners Tribunal. This is not due process and is contrary to the judicial principles of India,” Khan emphasized.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has pledged to support those affected by the flawed NRC implementation, both legally and morally. The organization is calling on civil society, mainstream media, and the public to bring this issue to the forefront of national discourse.
“We demand that the government urgently review these actions and ensure that no genuine citizen is wrongfully branded as a foreigner and subjected to detention. The dignity and rights of every individual, regardless of caste, creed, or religion, must be safeguarded,” Khan added.
