This report summarizes 12 significant incidents that occurred between 2021 and 2024, where clerics or Islamist extremists made derogatory remarks or carried out actions against lower-caste Islamists, such as Pasmanda and Ajlaf communities. These cases reflect the ongoing discrimination and hostility within certain segments of the Islamic community toward groups considered to belong to lower castes in the Islamic social hierarchy.
The issue of caste discrimination within the Islamic community has long been overlooked by many, including political entities that often focus on the caste system within Hindu Dharma. Political parties such as Congress have frequently targeted Hindu Dharma, condemning its caste system, without ever addressing the deeply rooted discrimination that exists within the Islamic community. This selective focus on Hindu social issues, while remaining silent on similar practices within Islam, reveals a double standard. The Bharatiya political discourse tends to conveniently ignore the internal divisions within the Islamic community, especially when it comes to the marginalized Pasmanda Muslims, who face not just social exclusion but also violence and humiliation within their own religious fold.
Congress and other political leaders often rally behind causes aimed at promoting equality in Hindu society, but their silence on issues like caste-based discrimination, sectarian violence, and the marginalization of certain Islamist groups is glaring. They fail to bring attention to how fundamentalist elements within the Islamic community, such as Barelvi and Deobandi sects, perpetuate similar social hierarchies. This selective outrage undermines the call for equality, failing to acknowledge the need for reform within all religious communities, including Islam. The lack of discourse on Islamic internal discrimination not only deepens the social divide but also perpetuates the very biases that these political parties claim to oppose.
Sufi cleric Razvi’s controversial remarks on Wahhabi’s
On November 14, 2024, a video of Barelvi Sufi Islamic scholar Khadim Rizvi sparked controversy on social media. In the video, Rizvi is reportedly seen using derogatory language against Wahabi Muslims, referring to them as “pigs” and calling for a ban on their Azan (call to prayer). The remarks, which included inflammatory statements like “Wahabi Muslims are pigs; ban their Azan,” have ignited debates about sectarian tensions within the Islamic community. In the video, Razvi made inflammatory remarks against Wahhabi Muslims, referring to them derogatorily as “Sooran Da Soor” and accusing them of corrupting religious practices.
Rizvi’s statements have drawn criticism, with many highlighting the divisive nature of such rhetoric. This incident underscores the growing sectarian divide, as such remarks fuel discord and reflect deeper issues within intra-faith relations.
Urdu supremacy debate divides Islamists
A viral video shared on November 14, 2024, has sparked conversations about linguistic discrimination within the Islamist community in Bharat. The video features a young Islamist man expressing frustration over Ashrafs, a social group within Islamists, looking down upon individuals who speak regional languages such as Telugu, Bengali, or Tamil. He alleged that Ashrafs associate Urdu with honor and prestige, marginalizing those who do not speak it, especially Pasmanda Muslims, despite Islamic teachings that all languages are equal before Allah.
This sentiment, as described in the video, highlights a cultural divide where regional languages are perceived as less refined compared to Urdu. The speaker criticized this mindset as disrespectful to the linguistic diversity and identities of many Bharatiya Islamists. The video has resonated widely, fueling discussions on social media about the dynamics of language, identity, and cultural hierarchy within the community.
On November 13, 2024, in Pakistan, an inflammatory statement by Maulana Hafiz Nizamuddin reignited debates surrounding the rights of Ahmadi Muslims. Addressing the contentious issue of religious decrees (fatwas), he asserted that Pakistani authorities and clerics hold the power to declare certain individuals or groups, such as Ahmadis, as non-Islamists. His comments highlighted the long-standing tension between mainstream Islamic factions and the Ahmadiyya community, which faces persecution for their belief in Imam Mahdi and refusal to adhere to orthodox interpretations.
In response, Ahmadi representatives dismissed the cleric’s remarks, emphasizing their right to religious self-identification and faith in Imam Mahdi. A speech by Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, an influential Ahmadi leader, was widely circulated, reinforcing their stance against clerical decrees and discrimination. The Ahmadiyya community continues to advocate for their constitutional rights in Pakistan, challenging systematic exclusion and demanding recognition as equal citizens despite religious differences.
On November 5, 2024, a video surfaced on social media highlighting the systemic caste-based discrimination faced by Pasmanda Islamists in Bharat. Recorded in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the video features speakers Faiz Ahmed Faizi and Waqr Ahmed Fatmi addressing the long-standing practice of segregation within the Islamic community. They pointed out that certain mosques, like those in Azamgarh, restrict Pasmanda Islamists from participating alongside Ashraf groups, enforcing caste-based exclusion even in religious spaces. The speakers criticized the creation of separate mosques and burial grounds for Pasmanda/Ajlaf Islamists, calling it a stark example of the deeply entrenched social hierarchy.
Pasmanda Islamists, who comprise around 85% of the Bharatiya Islamic population and are largely converts from marginalized Hindu communities such as SC, ST, and OBC, face underrepresentation in key Islamic institutions. Critics have highlighted the lack of political and social acknowledgment of these issues, particularly in conversations around caste within Bharatiya Islamists. The controversy also reignited debates over the need for a caste census among Islamists in Bharat, with many questioning why mainstream political parties like Congress avoid addressing this sensitive but significant topic.
Deep divides: Ashraf vs. Pasmanda muslims in Bharat
On November 5, 2024, a video featuring Thamannan Inamdar brought to light the stark divisions within the Bharatiya Islamic community, particularly between the Ashraf (upper class) and Pasmanda (lower class) groups. In the video, Inamdar highlighted how these divisions manifest in everyday life, stating that the two groups do not intermarry, share meals, or even worship together. Separate mosques and burial grounds for Ashraf and Pasmanda Islamists further reinforce this segregation, reflecting deep-rooted social hierarchies within the community.
This revelation underscores the widespread discrimination faced by Pasmanda Islamists, who constitute a significant majority of the Bharatiya Islamic population but are often marginalized in religious and social institutions. The issue has drawn criticism from various quarters, with calls for greater awareness and action to address these inequalities. Inamdar’s statements also reignited conversations about caste within Islamists.
Pasmanda’s face discrimination within their community
On October 13, 2024, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla revealed the stark reality of caste-based discrimination faced by Pasmanda Islamists within the Bharatiya Islamic community. Speaking to the media, Poonawalla openly identified himself as a Pasmanda Islamist and highlighted the widespread untouchability they face from Ashraf Islamists, considered the upper caste within the community. He recounted that Pasmanda individuals, including castes such as Dhobi, Julaha, and Halalkhor, are often denied entry into mosques dominated by Ashraf Islamists, such as Ansari mosques, and are not allowed to share seating or even access drinking water with them.
Poonawalla’s remarks have sparked renewed discussion about the pervasive caste system among Bharatiya Islamists, an issue that often remains unaddressed. Despite forming a significant portion of the Islamic population, Pasmanda Islamists frequently encounter exclusion from places of worship and societal spaces, perpetuating their marginalization.
Pasmanda Islamist assaulted by upper caste Islamist
On October 10, 2024, a disturbing incident from Bhagalpur surfaced online, showcasing the mistreatment of a Pasmanda Islamist man, Faiyaz, by a group of Ashraf Islamists. The viral video, widely shared on social media, shows an elderly Islamist questioning Faiyaz about his name, origin, and reason for being in their area. The confrontation escalated as Faiyaz was slapped and threatened, with the mob accusing him of following Imam Mahdi as part of his faith. They warned him never to return to their locality.
Ahmadis face denial of burial rights in Pakistan
On September 7, 2024, an incident in Kamalia, Punjab, highlighted the ongoing persecution of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan. Extremists from the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) prevented the burial of an Ahmadi individual in a local graveyard, filling the dug grave and refusing to permit the funeral rites. The situation escalated as the group hurled stones at members of the Ahmadiyya community who were present, further exacerbating the hostility.
This incident underscores the severe discrimination faced by Ahmadis in Pakistan, who are denied fundamental rights, including burial in community graveyards. The relentless persecution of the community, both in life and death, continues to draw attention to the deeply ingrained sectarian divides.
Ahmadis threatened against celebrating Bakrid in Pakistan
On June 17, 2024, extremist elements in Pakistan issued warnings to the Ahmadiyya community, prohibiting them from celebrating the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Azha (Bakrid). Based on the reports from Tv9 Hindi, a video released by leaders of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) threatened severe consequences if Ahmadis participated in sacrificial rituals or any festive activities. The TLP leader urged vigilante action, asking followers to closely monitor the community and report any instances of religious practices to the authorities. This persecution reflects the deep-rooted discrimination Ahmadis face, with their mosques, minarets, and even graves frequently vandalized.
The Ahmadiyya community, declared non-Islamists under Pakistani law since 1974, endures systemic oppression. Ahmadis face legal restrictions, including imprisonment, for identifying as Islamists or practicing their faith openly. Fundamentalists cite theological differences, accusing Ahmadis of denying Prophet Mohammed as the final prophet, a claim the Ahmadis refute. Despite adhering to the five pillars of Islam, the community is marginalized and often accused of blasphemy, resulting in arrests and violence.
Globally, the Ahmadiyya Islamists population is approximately 10 million, with 4 million residing in Pakistan. They are present in over 200 countries, yet their status in Pakistan remains dire. Acts of hate, including the destruction of 17 graves in Punjab province, underscore the relentless persecution.
Caste bias in Pakistan: Kabaddi player refuses to compete
A viral video from Pakistan has spotlighted caste-based discrimination in the sports arena. In the clip, Pasmanda Kabaddi player Syed Sikhaldi humbly accepts his defeat as he is refused a match by his opponent, a Syed player of higher caste. The Islamist fighter justified his refusal, stating, “Syeds are superior; we cannot engage with those beneath us.” This incident reveals the entrenched caste hierarchy within Pakistan, where Pasmanda Islamists are treated as socially inferior to Syeds, and even Syeds are considered subordinate to Arabs.
This episode underscores the broader reality of systemic inequality in Pakistan, where the notion of equality among humans remains absent in practice. Discrimination along caste and racial lines persists, creating divisions even within the Islamic community.
Sectarian divide: Maulana questions Islamic identity
In February 2023, a video featuring Pir Shafeeq Ahmad, Chairman of the Sunfiya Foundation in Banaras, stirred controversy over Islamic identity. Addressing a gathering, Shafeeq Ahmad asserted that “Deobandi Muslims are not true Muslims; they are merely a group of agitators.” He further criticized the fragmentation within the Islamic community, listing various castes and sects like Syed, Sheikh, Pathan, Mirza, Mughal, Ansari, Mansoori, and Qureshi, highlighting the pervasive divisions.
The Maulana’s remarks emphasized the perceived lack of unity and authenticity among certain sects, including Deobandi, Wahabi, Shia, Sunni, Sufi, and Ahmadiya Islamists. He claimed that these groups thrive by exploiting the name of Islam without truly representing its essence.
Educational discrimination against Pasmanda women
On August 6, 2021, a video posted on social media by activist Begum Ansari shed light on the systematic discrimination faced by Pasmanda women within the Bharatiya Islamic community. The video revealed how educational institutions run by some sections of the Ashraf class actively segregate women based on caste lines. Ashraf women are reportedly instructed to avoid interactions with Pasmanda women, derogatorily referred to as Julahan, perpetuating social and educational inequalities.
The video underscores the persistent caste-based prejudice in Islamic society in Bharat, particularly against Pasmanda women, who already face significant barriers to education and empowerment.
This incidens sheds light on the deep-rooted caste-based discrimination within the Islamic community, an issue that often goes unacknowledged in public discourse. Reports and social media discussions highlight how marginalized groups such as Pasmanda Islamists and other lower-caste individuals frequently face abuse and exploitation at the hands of upper-caste groups like the Ansaris. Despite the prevalence of such divisions, political narratives often focus on targeting the Hindu community over caste-based inequalities while ignoring the glaring cracks within the Islamic social structure.
