Hate Crimes Against Muslims in Contemporary India: Critically Analysing the Response of Indian State Underpinning International Human Rights Law

The article aims to study the response of Indian State to the rapidly increasing hate crimes against its Muslim population. It will then compare the response with the international obligations of the State. With the spotlight on legal and judicial approach towards Indian model of hate, the article develops to explain the socio-legal effects of hate crimes on minorities. The role of media in normalising hate towards Muslims is an alarming threat in their exercise of constitutional and human rights. The inadequacy of laws to address hate-crimes and overwhelming use of legislative powers by the government to ghettoise Muslims further are some of the pressing yet underexplored areas of study.The article will start with a brief understanding of relevant concepts like communalism, hate crimes, cow vigilantism etc. in Indian parlance and shall discuss the rights of minorities in international context. It shall acknowledge the human rights attributed to minorities with special reference to India’s obligations under International law. The following part shall discuss recent incidents of hate crimes and judiciary response to them. This part will examine—whether there is lack of laws to protect minorities or lack of enforcement in safeguarding the human rights of minority population. It will conclude with underlining possible consequences of the vilification of Indian Muslims and suggestions to adequately address these challenges.

کلیدواژه ها:

human rights ، hate crimes ، International Law ، constitutional rights ، Minority rights