December 2025 closes yet another year marked by persistent and escalating Islamophobic violence in India. Across the country, Muslim minorities continued to face targeted hostility -ranging from physical assaults and mob lynchings in public spaces to systemic humiliation, hate speech, and digital abuse. These incidents did not occur in isolation; they unfolded within a broader political and social climate shaped by Hindutva ideology, where anti-Muslim sentiment has increasingly been normalized in public discourse and governance.
Throughout the year, and acutely in December, reports emerged of Muslims being attacked in streets, homes, and workplaces under the pretext of identity, rumor, or manufactured provocation. Mob violence and lynchings -often filmed and circulated- reinforced a climate of fear and impunity. Alongside physical violence, hate speeches and openly Islamophobic remarks by political leaders and public figures further legitimized exclusion and dehumanization, contributing to an environment where discrimination is both encouraged and excused.
One particularly disturbing incident during this period involved Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who publicly humiliated a Muslim woman during an award ceremony. The episode, widely documented, exemplified how institutional power can be used to demean minorities in symbolic and visible ways, reinforcing social hierarchies and eroding dignity.
Islamophobia in December 2025 was not confined to physical or political spaces. In the digital sphere, artificial intelligence–generated images and manipulated media depicting Muslims in dehumanizing and violent stereotypes proliferated across social platforms. These visuals amplified hate, misinformation, and fear, demonstrating how emerging technologies are being weaponized to spread communal prejudice at scale.
This documentation records Islamophobic incidents reported during December 2025 with the aim of preserving evidence, amplifying marginalized voices, and contributing to historical accountability.
MOB LYNCHINGS & FATAL ATTACKS
1. Mohammad Athar Hussain Lynched in Nawada, Bihar
- Date: December 5-13, 2025
- Location: Bhatta village, Roh block, Nawada district, Bihar
- Victim: 50-year-old Muslim street vendor Mohammad Athar Hussain
- Incident: Brutally attacked by Hindu mob while returning from Dumri. Victims reportedly had ears cut with pliers and were beaten severely. Athar Hussain succumbed to injuries on December 13, 2025.
- Details: Third reported lynching case in Nawada district in 2025. Police initially attempted to frame as theft case, dismissing communal angle.
- Source: Maktoob Media
2. Juyel Rana Lynched in Odisha (Bengali Migrant Worker)
- Date: December 24, 2025 (Christmas Eve)
- Location: Sambalpur district, Odisha
- Victim: 19-year-old Juyel Rana
- Incident: Bengali construction worker from Murshidabad attacked by five men with rods and bamboo sticks. Accused of being “undocumented Bangladeshi immigrant.” Two other migrant workers critically injured.
- Details: Attackers demanded ID cards to “prove Indian identity.” Pattern of targeted violence against Bengali-speaking Muslim migrant workers.
- Sources: The Wire, The Observer Post
3. Ramnarayan Baghel Lynched in Palakkad, Kerala
- Date: December 17, 2025
- Location: Palakkad district, Kerala
- Victim: 30-year-old Ramnarayan Baghel (migrant worker from Chhattisgarh)
- Incident: Lynched by mob accused of theft. Video shows assailants asking if he was from Bangladesh and calling him “Bangladeshi.”
- Details: Seven arrested. Police invoked SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Similar pattern to Sambalpur case.
- Source: The Wire
BEEF VIGILANTE ATTACKS & COW VIGILANTISM
4. Ahmed Azad Tied to Electric Pole – Gopalganj, Bihar
- Date: December 27, 2025
- Location: Mathiya area, Gopalganj district, Bihar
- Victim: Ahmed Azad (Muslim man)
- Incident: Stopped on motorbike by Hindu nationalist group, accused of carrying beef, tied to electric pole, publicly beaten. Videos show him pleading for help.
- Details: Vigilantes claimed to find “banned meat” but no evidence verified. His motorbike seized; police rescued him after extended beating.
- Sources: 5 Pillars UK, The Observer Post
5. Shareef Qureshi Attacked in Aligarh
- Date: December 20, 2025
- Location: Harduaganj, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
- Victim: Mohammad Shareef Qureshi (42, licensed meat trader with 25 years experience)
- Incident: Intercepted by ~10 men on motorcycle and SUV while transporting buffalo meat (legal commodity). Beaten with bricks, belts, hoses despite presenting valid documents.
- Injuries: Multiple injuries including deep mouth wounds requiring stitches
- Details: Attackers tore apart legitimate shipment documents. Police seized meat for forensic testing.
- Sources: Maktoob Media, Indian Express, Millat Times, The Observer Post
6. Muslim Driver Assaulted for Refusing “Jai Sri Ram”
- Date: December 4, 2025
- Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh
- Victim: 57-year-old Muslim taxi driver
- Incident: Harassed and assaulted by BJP worker for refusing to chant “Jai Sri Ram”
- Source: Maktoob Media
7. Two Muslim Vendors Attacked at Gita Chanting Event
- Date: December 10, 2025
- Location: Brigade Park area, Kolkata (during “Gita Path” event)
- Victims: Two Muslim street vendors selling non-vegetarian patties
- Incident: Back-to-back assaults by Hindutva men near cultural event
- Source: Maktoob Media
POLICE BRUTALITY & INSTITUTIONAL HARASSMENT
8. Muezzin Muhammad Irfan Assaulted by Police – Muzaffarnagar
- Date: December 10, 2025
- Location: Medina Masjid, Sarwat area, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh
- Victim: Muhammad Irfan (muezzin/mosque official)
- Incident: Assaulted by Sub-Inspector Vinod Chaudhary immediately after giving fajr (dawn) adhan. Despite mosque having written district administration permission for loudspeaker, officer accused him of illegal prayer call.
- Details: CCTV footage shows officer pushing and striking Irfan. Dragged to police station by 4-5 constables continuing assault. Inside station, officer used explicit Islamophobic insults including “Adhan dene ka itna shauq hai toh Pakistan chale ja” (If you love giving adhan so much, go to Pakistan). Other officers present but didn’t intervene. Held in illegal custody for hours.
- Response: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind submitted formal complaint demanding officer’s suspension and criminal proceedings
- Sources: Maktoob Media, The Observer Post, 5 Pillars UK, Madhyamam Online
09. JMI Professor Suspended Over Exam Question
- Date: December 23, 2025
- Location: Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
- Victim: Professor (name withheld)
- Incident: University suspended professor and ordered FIR for including semester exam question about “atrocities against Muslims in India.”
- Details: Reflects assault on academic freedom and institutional targeting of discussions on minority rights.
- Source: Maktoob Media
HIJAB & RELIGIOUS ATTIRE DISCRIMINATION IN SCHOOLS
23-25. Muslim Students Targeted for Religious Attire
- Date: December 26, 2025 (documentation)
- Locations: Multiple schools across India
- Incident: Pattern documentation showing Muslim students wearing hijabs and beards becoming targets in schools and examination centers
- Details: Reflects institutional Islamophobia in education system
- Source: The Observer Post
SOCIAL EVENT & PARTY ATTACKS
26. Bajrang Dal Attack on Bareilly Birthday Party
- Date: December 28, 2025
- Location: Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
- Incident: Bajrang Dal members attacked birthday party with Muslim guests
- Arrests: 5 arrested, 1 minor taken into police protection
- Details: Video evidence shows attackers forcing their way into celebration
- Sources: Maktoob Media, The Observer Post
27. Hindu Extremists Attack Christmas Birthday Party
- Date: December 28, 2025
- Location: Dehradun area
- Incident: Attack on birthday party with Muslim friends present
- Source: The Observer Post
PREGNANT WOMAN & GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
28. Pregnant Woman Attacked at Medical College
- Date: December 15, 2025
- Location: Kanpur Dehat Medical College, Uttar Pradesh
- Victim: Rukhsar (eight months pregnant)
- Incident: Kicked in stomach by individual named Rohit Yadav
- Source: The Observer Post
MOSQUE & RELIGIOUS SPACE DESECRATION
30. Mosque Desecration in Tripura
- Date: December 24, 2025
- Location: Tripura
- Incident: Mosque desecrated with liquor bottles, fire damage, and other vandalism
- Source: Muslim Network TV
31. Islamophobic Graffiti at Indian Statistical Institute
- Date: November 12, 2025 (pattern documentation)
- Location: Indian Statistical Institute
- Incident: Graffiti reading “Muslims and dogs should not enter” found at institution premises
- Source: Maktoob Media
ONLINE ISLAMOPHOBIC ABUSE CAMPAIGNS
32. Usman Khawaja’s Family Targeted with Islamophobic Abuse
- Date: December 21, 2025 (incident December 18-20)
- Context: After Sydney Bondi Beach shooting on December 18, 2025
- Victim: Cricketer Usman Khawaja’s Muslim family
- Incident: Targeted with intense Islamophobic abuse. Many abusive messages tracked to Indian users.
- Abusive Content: “Future school blasters” and other threatening language
- Details: Demonstrates how international events trigger Islamophobic backlash against Indian Muslims
- Sources: The Observer Post, Maktoob Media
33. AI-Generated Anti-Muslim Hate Images Surge
- Time Period: October-December 2025
- Incident: Documented surge of AI-generated images fueling anti-Muslim hate across social media in India
- Details: Rapid viral spread of dehumanizing imagery
- Source: Maktoob Media
34. Delhi BJP Islamophobic Social Media Campaign
- Date: December 1-6, 2025
- Location: New Delhi
- Incident: Delhi BJP “created awareness” about SIR (Specified Identified Refugees) using Islamophobic content on social media
- Details: Systematic campaign to demonize refugees, particularly Muslims
- Source: The Wire
Compiled by: Muhammed Shamil
