A panel of international legal experts has accused authorities in parts of India of committing acts against Muslims that may amount to crimes against humanity. The findings were detailed in a report released Monday, March 31, which also called for a United Nations investigation and possible sanctions.
The report was prepared by a Panel of Independent International Experts (PIIE) and was supported by students from a Transnational Legal Clinic. It examines alleged human rights violations in the Indian states of Assam and Uttar Pradesh between 2022 and early 2026. Together, the two states are home to more than 35 million Muslims.
The report highlights a steady rise in discrimination and violence against Muslims, which experts have linked to “majoritarian rule”—policies and politics that favor the majority community. They note that these measures have been implemented most harshly in Assam and Uttar Pradesh and reflect a broader pattern across India.
Among the most serious allegations is the mass eviction of Bengali-speaking Muslims from Assam. Between May 2025 and January 2026, at least 2,450 people were forcibly removed. The report states that such actions could constitute forced displacement or forced relocation, which are considered crimes against humanity under international law.
The report also notes that since 2016, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in Assam, at least 17,600 families have been displaced. These evictions often involve the demolition of homes and the revocation of citizenship or residency rights. Experts say this pattern may qualify as persecution and racial discrimination, comparable to apartheid.
In Uttar Pradesh, the report identifies a wave of extrajudicial violence. In 2024 alone, at least 56 Muslims were deliberately shot and maimed in circumstances suggesting victims were already in custody and posed no threat. Experts say these actions may amount to torture, a crime against humanity.
The report also notes that Muslims who protest against discrimination are routinely targeted, a practice that qualifies as persecution under international law.
Law students played a key role in the research, conducting legal analyses across three projects, reviewing evidence from victims, and applying international legal frameworks. The work was overseen by Surabhi Chopra, Leverhulme Visiting Professor at The Dickson Poon School of Law.
The experts recommend that the UN Human Rights Council establish an independent body to investigate these violations in India and appoint a special rapporteur dedicated to the country. They also urge other nations to apply diplomatic and economic pressure, including targeted sanctions if necessary.
The report further calls on the Indian government to honor its international obligations by conducting impartial investigations, holding perpetrators accountable, and providing compensation to victims.
So far, the Indian government has not issued a public response to the report.
The experts, who have previously investigated human rights crises in countries such as Rwanda, Myanmar, and North Korea, say the situation in India demands urgent international attention.
The report concludes: “The scale and systematic nature of these alleged violations are of grave concern under international law,” warning that failure to act could deepen sectarian divisions and further undermine the rights of minorities.
The full report can be read here:
