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UN body calls on India to urgently tackle hate crimes against Bengali Muslims

A United Nations human rights committee has expressed serious concern over India's handling of hate crimes targeting Bengali-speaking Muslims, urging the government to take immediate action to address the issue.

LSN Malaysia · 25 August 2026

UN body calls on India to urgently tackle hate crimes against Bengali Muslims

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has rebuked India over what it describes as inadequate measures to prevent and prosecute hate crimes against Bengali-speaking Muslim communities. The committee's concerns centre on documented incidents of violence and discrimination facing the minority group across parts of the country. In its assessment, the UN body stressed that India must prioritise urgent remedial action to protect vulnerable populations from racially motivated attacks and ensure perpetrators face accountability through the justice system. The watchdog's findings add to mounting international scrutiny of communal tensions and minority protections in India. New Delhi has faced repeated calls from human rights organisations to strengthen safeguards for religious and linguistic minorities and to investigate allegations of bias in law enforcement responses to communal incidents. The committee's rebuke represents formal criticism from a UN mechanism tasked with monitoring compliance with international conventions against racial discrimination. India's response to the committee's recommendations is likely to feature in ongoing discussions about human rights protections in the region.