India’s Muslims See Discrimination in New Religion-Based Citizenship Law
FILE - Students in Kolkata protest against the CAA and NRC, Dec. 27, 2019. Violence erupted during weekslong protests against the controversial citizenship law across the country in 2019-2020, with more than 100 people killed. (Shaikh Azizur Rahman for VOA) The Indian government’s recent announcement of rules to implement a 2019 citizenship law has sparked protests in India, with many accusing it of polarizing the society ahead of general elections scheduled for next month. Under the Citizenship Amendment Act or, CAA, “persecuted” religious minorities from Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who entered India before December 2014, will be allowed to claim Indian citizenship on a fast-track basis. Since the law applies only to non-Muslims, critics — including rights groups, opposition political parties and Muslim community leaders — say it discriminates against Muslims. After last week’s announcement, Amnesty International described the CAA as “a discriminatory law t