New Delhi, A group of international Muslim students at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad was attacked by a Hindutva mob for conducting Taraweeh prayers at their hostel, highlighting a disturbing incident of religious intolerance. The attack has sparked significant concern and outrage, particularly among the foreign student community, over their safety in India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the violent episode unfolded when students gathered for Taraweeh prayers, a practice observed during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The mob, armed with knives, cricket bats, and stones, reportedly chanted Islamophobic slogans while assaulting the students. Despite the presence of the police, the attackers were allegedly allowed to leave the scene without any intervention, leading to accusations of negligence.
Five students sustained severe injuries in the attack and were subsequently hospitalized. The victims include Haroon Jabbar from Afghanistan, Azad from Turkmenistan, and Mario from Sri Lanka, along with two other students from African countries. Ahmad Waris Sakha, a cybersecurity student and spokesperson for the foreign students at the university, narrated the harrowing experience, noting the absence of mosques on campus as a reason for their decision to pray at the hostel.
The students’ call for help to the university administration reportedly went unheeded, with one official allegedly stating that the safety of the students was not their responsibility. The incident has raised serious questions about the security of international students in India and the broader issue of religious freedom and tolerance within the country.