Remembering Victims of the 2002 Anti-Muslim Gujarat Riots
February 27th, 2023
Justice For All Canada stands in solidarity with thousands of Muslim minorities impacted by the 2002 Gujarat riots on the 21st anniversary of the attacks.
On this day, a series of devastating violent incidents in India’s Gujarat state massacred over 1,000 Muslim members of the community. Incited by members of the Modi-ruled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), violent mobs launched deadly attacks against Muslim neighbourhoods, businesses, and mosques.
Extremist mobs singled out Muslim-owned properties for destruction, attacking Muslims in their homes and setting mosques on fire. Police officers also participated in the violence or turned a blind eye to the attacks on Muslims.
“The Gujarat riots were massive human rights violation against Indian Muslims. We call for accountability for BJP leaders responsible for allowing the targeted killings and gender-based violence that occurred. The BJP’s handling of the riots, especially the lack of justice for Muslims, fails those victims who deserve redress,” said Executive Director Taha Ghayyur.
The violence resulted in the deaths of at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, while tens of thousands were displaced and their properties destroyed. Muslim women and girls were subjected to sexual violence and rape, and many were killed.
Over the years, the BJP government acquitted dozens of the perpetrators responsible for the anti-Muslim murders.
Several nations took diplomatic actions against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002. These nations cited his involvement in the riots;
Violent discrimination against Indian minorities has led to a genocide alert issued for Muslim minorities by NGO Genocide Watch. Canadian activists urge Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to break his silence over the rampant impunity practiced by the nationalist BJP government in India. We urge Canadian Federal leaders to condemn the BJP’s discriminatory policies and laws targeting religious and ethnic minorities, particularly Muslims, Dalits, and Christians. These policies have led to widespread human rights abuses against them.
Resources
Justice For All Canada stands in solidarity with thousands of Muslim minorities impacted by the 2002 Gujarat riots on the 21st anniversary of the attacks.
On this day, a series of devastating violent incidents in India’s Gujarat state massacred over 1,000 Muslim members of the community. Incited by members of the Modi-ruled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), violent mobs launched deadly attacks against Muslim neighbourhoods, businesses, and mosques.
Extremist mobs singled out Muslim-owned properties for destruction, attacking Muslims in their homes and setting mosques on fire. Police officers also participated in the violence or turned a blind eye to the attacks on Muslims.
“The Gujarat riots were massive human rights violation against Indian Muslims. We call for accountability for BJP leaders responsible for allowing the targeted killings and gender-based violence that occurred. The BJP’s handling of the riots, especially the lack of justice for Muslims, fails those victims who deserve redress,” said Executive Director Taha Ghayyur.
The violence resulted in the deaths of at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, while tens of thousands were displaced and their properties destroyed. Muslim women and girls were subjected to sexual violence and rape, and many were killed.
Over the years, the BJP government acquitted dozens of the perpetrators responsible for the anti-Muslim murders.
Several nations took diplomatic actions against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002. These nations cited his involvement in the riots;
- In 2002 the Canadian government denied a visa to Modi, citing concerns about his role in the Gujarat riots. In 2013, after Modi became Prime Minister of India, Canada lifted the ban and welcomed him to visit the country.
- The US State Department denied a diplomatic visa to Modi in 2005, citing his role in the Gujarat riots as the reason for the denial.
- The UK government imposed a travel ban on Modi in 2005.
- In 2002, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the Gujarat riots and called on the Indian government to bring the perpetrators to justice. In 2005, the European Union imposed a visa ban on Modi.
Violent discrimination against Indian minorities has led to a genocide alert issued for Muslim minorities by NGO Genocide Watch. Canadian activists urge Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to break his silence over the rampant impunity practiced by the nationalist BJP government in India. We urge Canadian Federal leaders to condemn the BJP’s discriminatory policies and laws targeting religious and ethnic minorities, particularly Muslims, Dalits, and Christians. These policies have led to widespread human rights abuses against them.
Resources