‘Naturally scared’: India’s Muslims denied public spaces for Eid prayers
Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, India, are facing restrictions on public spaces for Eid prayers, leading to a tense atmosphere during the festival. Authorities have advised worshippers to pray in shifts and avoid gathering outside mosques due to fears of confrontation. The situation reflects a broader trend of increasing scrutiny and limitations on Muslim religious practices in the region.
- ▪Muslims in Uttar Pradesh are being asked to pray in shifts due to restrictions on public gatherings.
- ▪Right-wing Hindu groups have been protesting against public prayers, citing traffic and security concerns.
- ▪The BJP government has intensified crackdowns on Muslim prayers in open spaces since coming to power.
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Features|Islamophobia‘Naturally scared’: India’s Muslims denied public spaces for Eid prayersFrom being asked to pray ‘in shifts’ to ban on spillage of mosque congregations onto streets – Muslims are denied visible celebrations.ListenListen (12 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoMuslims offering Eid prayers at Wasiullah Mosque in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India [File: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP]By Sajid Raina and Tauseef AhmadPublished On 27 May 202627 May 2026Meerut, India – The mood is barely festive as a group of Muslim men huddle inside a small mosque to discuss the arrangements for Eid al-Adha prayers in Meerut district of India’s Uttar Pradesh state.Ceiling fans hum above to beat the brutal north…
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