OIC condemns growing attacks on Indian Muslims

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Burqa clad Muslim women hold placards as they take part in a demonstration in Kolkata on February 11, 2022, to protest after students were told not to wear hijabs in the premises of the institute. (AFP)
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Women wearing hijabs attend a protest against the recent hijab ban in few colleges of Karnataka state, on the outskirts of Mumbai, India, February 13, 2022. (REUTERS)
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Burqa clad Muslim women hold placards as they take part in a demonstration in Kolkata on February 11, 2022, to protest after students were told not to wear hijabs in the premises of the institute. (AFP)
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Burqa clad Muslim women hold placards as they take part in a demonstration in Kolkata on February 11, 2022, to protest after students were told not to wear hijabs in the premises of the institute. (AFP)
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Updated 15 February 2022
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OIC condemns growing attacks on Indian Muslims

  • OIC called upon the international community, especially the UN and Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, to take necessary measures in this regard

JEDDAH: The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has expressed deep concern over recent public calls for the genocide of Muslims in Haridwar in India’s Uttarakhand state. It also condemned reported incidents of harassment of Muslim women on social media, as well as the banning of female Muslim students wearing the hijab in Karnataka.

The continued attacks on Muslims and their places of worship, the recent trend of anti-Muslim legislation in different states and rising incidents of violence against Muslims are indicative of the growing trend of Islamophobia, the OIC said.

It called upon the international community, especially the UN and Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, to take necessary measures in this regard.

The OIC urged India to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of the Muslim community, protect the way of life of its citizens, and bring perpetrators of acts of violence to justice.


UK secures migrant return deal with Angola, Namibia; DRC faces visa curbs

Updated 28 December 2025
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UK secures migrant return deal with Angola, Namibia; DRC faces visa curbs

LONDON: Angola and Namibia have agreed to accept the ​return of illegal migrants and criminals after the British government threatened visa penalties for countries refusing to cooperate, the UK Home Office said late on Saturday.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has ‌been stripped ‌of fast-track visa services ‌and ⁠preferential ​treatment ‌for VIPs and decision-makers after failing to meet Britain’s requirements to improve cooperation, the Home Office said.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said Britain could escalate measures to a complete halting of visas ⁠for the DRC unless “co-operation rapidly improves.”
“We ‌expect countries to play ‍by the rules. ‍If one of their citizens has ‍no right to be here, they must take them back,” the Home Secretary added.

The agreements mark the first major ​change under reforms announced last month to make refugee status temporary ⁠and speed up the deportation of those who arrive illegally in Britain.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK has “removed more than 50,000 people with no right to remain” since July last year, a 23 percent increase on the previous period, and instructed diplomats to make returns a ‌top priority.