(NEWARK, NJ – 10/24/2025) — The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is urging all people of conscience to take a stand today in defense of Rutgers University’s right to host open, critical discussions about the rise of India’s far-right Hindutva movement and its devastating impact on Christians, Dalits, Muslims, Sikhs, and other minorities facing discrimination and violence under Prime Minister Modi’s government.
Supporters of the Modi government are now working to intimidate and silence voices at Rutgers—including Hindus, Christians, Dalits, Muslims, and Sikhs—who dare to question or criticize Hindutva extremism.
Do not let them succeed. Join Rutgers students, faculty, and CAIR-NJ in defending the university’s commitment to truth, scholarship, and free expression. Stand up now to ensure that legitimate criticism of far-right policies is not erased from our campuses or our national conversation.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has for several years urged the Department of State to designate India as a Country of Particular Concern for engaging in “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations” of religious freedom.
The harmful impacts of Prime Minister Modi’s targeting of religious minorities in India are reflected in the actions of his government’s apologists in the U.S. This has included a Quran burning in Illinois, the use of a bulldozer—a symbol of anti-Muslim violence by far-right Hindutva extremists—during an India Day Parade here in New Jersey, and efforts to “send a chilling message” to academics and journalists who have spoken out against the Indian government’s oppression and violence against Muslims.
This year, the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) “released a new study documenting how generative AI tools are being weaponized to produce and spread anti-Muslim visual hate at scale across social media platforms in India.” Their study found, “sexualized depictions of Muslim women drew the highest engagement.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com; CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com