Impact Restrictions: An Indian court has banned Islamic schools in the state of Uttar Pradesh, affecting 2.7 million students in thousands of schools. The decision comes just ahead of the country's general elections, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected to win. Modi faced harsh criticism for the persecution of Muslims during his tenure.
Assessment Basis: The court ruled that these religious schools violated the secularism prescribed by the Indian Constitution, and ordered the transfer of students to traditional schools. This move repeals a 2004 law on the management of religious schools in Uttar Pradesh.
Reactions and Implications: Iftikhar Ahmad Javed, head of the state's religious school education board, said the decision affects 2.7 million students and 10,000 teachers in 25,000 schools. Muslims make up at least a fifth of the state's 240 million residents.
On the other hand, Rakesh Tripathi, spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh, expressed concern over the education of Muslim students while denying any hostility towards religious schools.
Election Context: General elections in India are scheduled between April and June next year. Muslim activists and human rights organizations accused Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and members of promoting anti-Islam hate speech and inciting the destruction of mosques and Muslim property.
