New Delhi: Allegations of non-Muslims’ religious conversion at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) have ignited outrage among the university’s students and faculty, who have accused Hindutva groups of tarnishing the university’s reputation by fomenting controversy on campus.
“This is happening due to the interference of Hindutva organisations in the university. It is being done solely to defame the institution,” said Mohammed Alfauz Azmi a PhD scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia. Azmi is associated with the Fraternity Movement, the student wing of the Welfare Party of India, advocating democracy, social justice, and fraternity.
“Nothing of this sort happens here,” he said, questioning the evidence behind such conversion claims.
A report released on 15 November by Call for Justice, a Delhi-based social and not-for-profit trust, has alleged that Jamia engages in “discrimination of non-Muslims and conversions of non-Muslims”, highlighting a pattern of bias at the institution. It highlights instances of discrimination against non-Muslim students and faculty, with testimonies revealing widespread bias and prejudice based on religious identity.
Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, Ravi Harjai, the NGO’s founder, said that the report is based on interviews with nearly 60 individuals. He spoke about instances of non-Muslim students being denied hostels, facing stipend delays, and receiving threats to convert. Harjai also highlighted a demographic shift, noting that Muslims constitute 90 percent of the institution, compared to a 50 percent reservation for Muslims in 2011.
Nadeem Ahmed, Assistant Professor at Kirori Mal College and a member of the fact-finding team, claimed that complaints of conversion have been emerging from Jamia since 2005.
“People were filing complaints, but no action was being taken. As a result, things kept escalating, and the outcome is now before us,” Ahmed said to ThePrint.
The team spent three months compiling the report, interviewing nearly 60 individuals and documenting 27 cases.
Ahmed said they found that individuals are denied promotions, women are pressured to wear the hijab and abaya, and given little freedom to maintain a liberal lifestyle.
A female Master’s student at the A.J.K. Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC) at Jamia, speaking to ThePrint on condition of anonymity, alleged that during her entrance interview, Prof Danish Iqbal asked her if she knew the benefits of wearing a hijab and remarked that she “would look beautiful” if she were to wear one. He also commented that “it was the first time he had seen that Hindu girls are beautiful”.
Nadeem Ahmed further alleged that non-Muslim boys faced opposition for befriending Muslim girls, especially within hostels. He pointed out issues related to food in the mess, difficulties surrounding festival celebrations, and the tension caused by certain student groups. He also highlighted challenges faced by both teaching and non-teaching staff at the university.
“As for my association (with the report), it was time for fact-finding because a Muslim member had to be involved for it to be authentic. So, I got involved,” said Ahmed, adding that he was approached in July by Call for Justice.
Meanwhile, an organisation named Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association of Minorities has expressed concern over the report and urged the vice-chancellor of the university, its administration, and other relevant agencies to look into the matter.
A Jamia administration official, speaking to ThePrint on condition of anonymity, however, claimed that this association is “not registered”. “We have never heard of them. We don’t know what it is,’ the official said.
Some students have blamed the growing influence of Hindutva organisations on the Jamia campus. Both students and faculty claim that individuals aligned with the Sangh Parivar are being appointed to administrative positions, bolstering the presence of groups like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and Yuva, another Hindutva-affiliated student group, on campus.
They have also accused the administration of complicity in advancing a communal agenda, actively enabling the saffronisation of the university.
“This repeated targeting of Muslim students at Jamia as anti-Hindu based on falsehoods is extremely dangerous and part of a larger national scheme to fuel anti-Muslim hatred,” says Waquar Ahmed, a PhD student at Jamia.
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‘Harassed, discriminated against’
The Master’s student from AJK MCRC, mentioned earlier, not only accused faculty members of attempting to convert her but also harassment. The student, a Hindu by religion, shared details of her interactions with Prof. Danish Iqbal.
“He compared a black rose to the hijab and repeatedly promoted the idea,” she said.
She further alleged that on multiple occasions, including on campus, he urged her to use his janamaz (prayer mat), invited her to the mosque, and offered to teach her how to pray and recite the Kalma. According to her, Prof. Iqbal also questioned her religious symbols, asking her about the thread tied around her wrist. She claimed these incidents became a regular occurrence.
“Being a minority in such an institute, we started removing all these religious symbols,” she claimed.
She alleged that she was barred from sitting for the classes for her third semester due to low attendance—47 percent—claiming that the decision was made solely on “religious grounds” by Professor Mir Qasim, the MCRC Director. She asserted that she had attended classes regularly but that her attendance was deliberately not recorded.
According to Jamia Millia Islamia University Ordinance 35 (Academic), students must maintain at least 75 percent attendance to be eligible for semester or annual exams. A relaxation of up to 10 percent is allowed in cases of serious illness or medical disability.
The Master’s student alleged that eight students, including 6 Hindus and 2 Muslims, were rusticated over attendance issues.
A senior MCRC official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, dismissed the allegations made by the student as baseless. The official stated that the student, along with 11 others, was stopped from attending classes for the semester due to low attendance.
“Nobody detained her. She detained herself. Most of the faculty and guest faculty teaching her are non-Muslims,” he added. “There is no discrimination or injustice. Neither Danish Iqbal nor any other faculty member has conspired against her.”
The official stated that other students with over 60 percent attendance have also been detained. The student who has made the allegations, however, had an attendance of just 40 percent.
She also accused a clerk at MCRC, Ibn-e-Saud, of stalking and harassment. According to her, in July 2023, she began receiving inappropriate phone calls and later discovered that her phone number had been circulated around Jamia Nagar by Ibn-e-Saud. As a result, she faced rape threats and other severe threats to her safety.
“I was told, if you are seen without a hijab in this area, acid will be thrown on you. These are the types of obscene threats I received on call,” she claimed. “Naturally, I stopped going to college, which is why my attendance is now less.” She is currently repeating her third semester.
She claimed that when she attempted to file an FIR at the Jamia police station, the inspector redirected her to the university proctor. However, with the proctor absent on the day, five administrative staff members and professors allegedly tried to dissuade her from proceeding, questioning her for nearly four hours.
During the interaction, she alleged that one of them remarked “that boy will surely see you. Why don’t you wear a hijab? You should wear it”.
“They suppressed me from filing the FIR,” she said, adding that she doesn’t know the names of these officials.
She alleged that she was targeted by faculty members, including Assistant Professor Pragati Bhalla, whom she accused of discrimination. Despite informing Bhalla about the threatening phone calls she had been receiving, she claimed she received no assistance. Instead, Bhalla reportedly shared the details with Professors Danish Iqbal and Mir Qasim.
“I thought that she (Bhalla) is a Hindu, she will understand my problems. But she told this to Danish Iqbal and Mir Qasim. Naturally, they will not help me,” she said.
An AJK MCRC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, has denied all allegations.
“The department is trying to understand her concerns,” the official said.
The trigger
On 22 October, a scuffle had erupted near campus gate no. 7 during Diwali celebrations organised by Yuva, which included a rangoli competition.
Mohammed Alfauz Azmi of the Fraternity Movement, claimed that while the event had campus permission only until 6 pm, it continued past 7 pm. He alleged that 8-10 outsiders, including ABVP members, entered the premises, chanted slogans, and provoked Jamia students by labeling them as “outsiders”, leading to the confrontation.
According to Azmi, the Jamia administration never permits any organisation to hold events, but the issue arose when Yuva was granted permission for the programme. He stated, “The environment has only deteriorated when Hindutva organisations get involved.”
PhD student Waquar claimed that Yuva has been active at Jamia since 2018 but remained dormant until after the COVID-19 pandemic. He accused the Jamia administration of supporting the organisation, pointing to the involvement of the vice-chancellor and the Muslim Rashtriya Manch on campus.
Students allege that this is part of a calculated strategy by Hindutva organizations.
Meanwhile, the AJK MCRC’s student who spoke to ThePrint has denied such allegations, stating she is not associated with any organisation. She emphasised that if she were associated with the Sangh, BJP, or any right-wing group, she would have easily secured an entry into the organisations after graduation.
Jamia’s response
Satya Prakash, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mazhar Asif’s OSD at Jamia Millia Islamia University, has issued a statement responding to the allegations made in the Call for Justice report, reaffirming the university’s commitment to inclusivity and condemning all forms of discrimination. The statement acknowledged that past administrations may have mishandled such incidents but emphasised the ongoing efforts under the leadership of Professor Asif to create a fair and equitable environment.
The administration highlighted initiatives aimed at including marginalised groups in decision-making and administrative roles, such as the appointment of non-Muslim members from the SC community to key positions. Professor Asif reiterated his zero-tolerance policy toward caste, gender, and religious discrimination.
In response to the allegations of religious conversion, the university has categorically denied it.
One faculty member at Jamia Millia Islamia converted to Islam in 2019. A 40-year-old, she has been associated with the university since 2015.
Speaking to ThePrint on condition of anonymity, she said that she has been separated from her family for a long time. She credited her esteemed professors, the fraternity, and friends at Jamia for inspiring her to pursue a better path in academic humanitarian practice
She asserted that accusations related to conversion are completely unacceptable and are damaging the unity of Jamia.
“Conversion-related accusations like these are completely intolerable and are harming the unity of Jamia. Conversion is an untruthful term. The decision to become a reverted is made by the individual,” she said. “Whether it’s Islam, Hinduism, or Communism, no ideology can be imposed. It never remains an ideology if it is enforced.”
She added that efforts were being made to undermine the integrity of the Jamia fraternity and said that the conversion controversy at Jamia had no basis.
“University has been my second home for the past 9 years. Jamia became the practice and meditation of my everyday life,” she asserted.
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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Jamia has become an adda of conversion and Anti National Activities. Last year a student was arrested because he was crowd funding money for ISIS. Hindu Students are struggling for their basics rights. No SC, ST, OBC reservation is here. Why so??
Can the radicals based in Jamia deny the Involvement of a few faculty members and students arrested by NIA and Special Cell on terror charge?
Can they deny involvement of Safoora zargarin anti-CAA riots, who found to be inciting fellow women for the same and the chats can be found in Delhi Police Chargesheet?
If they do not accept that religious conversions takes place in Jamia on the basis of Allurement, then how come Sachin became a permanent staff after getting converted to Islam?
It is in the interest of Jamia to call out radicals who are hell bent on defaming the University with their cheap deeds.
The new VC should make an independent committee/board (primarily with external members) to specifically address the complaints/grievances of non-muslim students, while ensuring their anonymity and safety within campus. Religious Conversion, Love Jihad, Religion based harassment and discrimination have been very much prevalent within Jamia Campus, owing to the prevelant presence and appointment of Radical Islamist at various positions within University. To say that all the above concerns are imaginary and merely a ‘Hindutva Rant’ is nothing but sheer nonsense and heights of insensitivity!
So pls try to advocate for efforts to make Jamia’s Campus Culture Inclusive and Multicultural, especially for its ‘numerical minority’, rather than talking non-sense.
I have been Ex-Student of Jamia Millia who have faced severe Harassment and discrimination (and much more, which cannot be expressed here at public platform) during my M.Phil (Education) days at Department of Educational Studies (The Worst Department of Jamia, of that time !)
If such independent board/committee would have existed earlier, during my M.Phil days, i would have shared and submitted my grievance then and there.