India's Escalating Battle Against Jihad: Stepping Up the Fight Against Islamic Madrassas

The history of ancient India bears witness to several brutal and large-scale Islamic invasions. These invasions, spanning centuries, have left indelible scars on its cultural and social fabric. Successive cycles of destructive Islamic invasions were unleashed on Hindus right from the 11th century when Islamic Sultan Mahmud of Ghaznavi repeatedly pillaged the Somnath temple in North India to the sacking of Delhi carried out later by the Jihadi hordes of Timur (also known as Tamerlane) from Central Asia.

Historical texts confirm that the Central Asian conqueror Timur’s 1398 Islamic invasion of India was marked by extraordinary violence. This campaign targeted Hindus on a genocidal scale. Surviving diaries from Timur’s court chronicle the graphic atrocities committed during the sack of Delhi, where his Islamic forces systematically massacred millions of Hindus, sparing no man, woman, or child. Preservation efforts by the Archaeological Survey of India uncovered partial human remains buried across dozens of sites, confirming evidence of brutalities described in Timur’s own battle journals. 

It is not an understatement to say that the biggest genocide in the history of the world was the invasion of India by Islamic fanatic and mass murderer Tamerlane. He wrote out in his notes with great pride about how he had millions of infidel kafir Hindus slaughtered and killed by his Muslim jihadis. Some estimates of this atrocity account for over 80 million Hindus.” Historical demographers describe the lasting deurbanization where once prosperous cosmopolitan trade hubs like Delhi were reduced to ghost towns unable to recover their glory for at least a century later. Such extensive infrastructural destruction and immense human suffering left in the wake of Timur’s genocidal campaign mark his conquest as one of the darkest periods of devastation on the Indian subcontinent. This region was a thriving hub of arts, mathematics, science, and culture in ancient times before Islamic Jihad.

Much more recently, following India’s independence in 1947, many Muslims in the subcontinent were disappointed to learn that India would be governed as a democracy. Muslims in undivided India refused to live in a democratic nation and insisted on an Islamic country under Sharia law. Many Muslim-instigated riots broke out across the country in which thousands of Hindus were mercilessly killed.

Sentiments that were already simmering came to a boiling point and led to the demand for a separate Islamic nation, resulting in the formation of Pakistan in 1947 as a homeland for Indian Muslims. This is how Islamic Pakistan was born: out of bloodshed, intolerance for all other religions and ways of life, violence, and chaos.

The entire foundation of Pakistan was built on Islamic intolerance, hatred for Hindus, and an unwillingness to participate in a secular, multilateral, and multicultural society. The Islamic ambitions of Pakistan today are very similar to those of Palestine. The Pakistani army, leadership, and the Sunni Muslim class of Imams and Maulanas all perceive the conquest and subjugation of Hindustan (India) as rightfully justified. They continue to fuel the hatred for Hindus and India by spinning narratives out of the Hadiths of the Ghazwa-E-Hind across all the mosques in Pakistan, even though the Islamic nation of Pakistan has been defeated by India every single time in all the four major wars that have been fought between the two countries since 1947.

The Pakistani jihadis live their lives under the delusion that if a region was under Sharia law at some point in past history, then that region should be regarded as inherently Islamic territory forever till the end of time. Pakistani and other global Muslims apply this illogical reasoning to India, which is similar to the beliefs underpinning their justification for wars against Israel.

The current modern-day menace of Islamic madrassas: A threat to democracy, freedom, and pluralism in India

Given the historical background of India’s violent engagements with Islamic radicalism and the spirit of Jihad for centuries, the present day and age now presents new and formidable challenges that are once again gearing up to tear and wreck the nation apart.

Today, in India, the presence of thousands of madrassas presents a severe problem. This situation threatens the fabric of democracy, freedom, and liberty.”. A madrassa is an exclusivist Islamic religious school where Muslim children in their formative years are taught the Quran, Sharia, and the Islamic scriptural canon. They are motivated by their clerics to recall and contemplate the past glory of Islamic history that was built on a legacy of invasions. The Muslim students are also introduced to the fabled concept of Ghazwa-E-Hind (the goal of establishing the Caliphate across India through Jihad) at an early age so that it becomes deeply embedded in their subconscious minds.

The syllabus content teaches students to hate all non-Muslims in India. This is especially true for Hindus, who are labeled as ‘kafirs,’ a hateful term used by Muslims to describe non-Muslims. Instead of teaching English, Science, Physics, Mathematics, Social Studies, etc, the Muslim seminaries across India in every province continue to produce thousands of indoctrinated paranoid human beings full of hate, false pride, and a meritless superiority complex. These Muslim youth who pass out or graduate from these Madrassas often fail to integrate and assimilate themselves into mainstream society because of their low educational skills and qualifications. They thus become more accessible and vulnerable to Islamic militant groups who then use these lost, frustrated, and disillusioned young Muslim men for either terrorist operations or activities that threaten to undermine the sovereignty and security of the nation.

Massive crackdown on Islamic madrassas in India’s Uttar Pradesh: Intense scrutiny and probes underway

Uttar Pradesh is a province in northern India with a huge Muslim population. The madrassa education system in the state has recently come under intense scrutiny. At least 24,000 Islamic seminaries across the state are under the scanner of local BJP officials for receiving vast sums of undeclared funds from abroad. This has lent validity and credence to already existing suspicions that such money finances illegal and nefarious activities such as terrorism within India and forced conversion to Islam.

According to top officials of Uttar Pradesh Police, a preliminary investigation has already found more than 8,400 madrassas to be in clear violation of local state government rules. A comprehensive report documenting the alleged illegal functioning of these seminaries has recently been submitted to state authorities.

A thorough investigation of the financial records of 30-40 madrassas completed in the first phase revealed that approximately ₹100 crore (USD 13.33 million) was donated directly to these Islamic madrassas through unknown foreign sources from the Middle East. The investigating authorities plan to fully verify the end use of such suspicious funds through mandatory “Know Your Customer” (customer due diligence) declarations. The actual beneficiaries who have received this money will soon be called to appear before the investigation committee and explain in detail the purpose of the use. Available evidence suggests that the funds came mainly from Europe and countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.

However, officials also point to the rapidly growing trend of sending foreign funds through London as a transit point. The main reason for this is the relatively liberal monitoring of remittances from the United Kingdom, which has recently become a hotbed of Pakistani jihadis. The investigating officers aim to reveal the real identities of the individuals who moved such a considerable amount of money from abroad. Their credentials and intentions are under further investigation. Senior officials also mentioned that the involvement of Pakistan’s notorious ISI (The Inter-Services Intelligence) in routing the funds through London is a possible source that cannot be completely ruled out yet.

Interestingly, Uttar Pradesh police sources note that several new madrassas have mushroomed throughout the India-Nepal border areas in recent years. The districts of Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Shravasti, Balarampur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Pilibhit share sensitive and porous borders with Nepal. The rapid growth of madrassas in these border villages has raised concerns that this is an intentional and planned strategy by Islamic elements to target their operations in specific geographical areas that are comparatively remote and isolated.

Under the Lens: Network  of Al-Qaeda sleepers cells exposed by state government authorities in the province of Assam

Leading officials of India’s current ruling BJP party have exposed the real face of some Islamic madrassas in the northeastern state of Assam. The madrassas were actively aiding and abetting anti-national activities on Indian soil. These seminaries that operate mainly via covert means often serve as breeding grounds for Islamic grooming and are often connected to Islamic organizations worldwide as part of the global, transnational network of radicalism.

Recently, the local leadership of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a press meeting. According to them, al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) had established its presence along isolated riverine islands and villages of Assam province. According to the authorities, this nexus had grown stronger and has continually deepened in recent years, right under the noses of security agencies.

The authorities and spokespersons pointed out the recent arrests of five young men from the Chakaliyapara Madrassa in Assam’s Barpeta district by police. They mentioned that this is clear proof of the underground activities and linkages of al-Qaeda terror modules, with a majority of such madrassas in the riverine tracts. They expressed dismay that students undergoing training in these institutions seemed utterly oblivious to the iconic historical figures of Assam. The Muslim jihadis were clearly making all attempts to erase national history from the books.

The spokespersons noted that the books used to teach the students in these madrassas had completely wiped out important local historical figures such as the 15th-century Hindu monks Shankardeva and Madhabdeva. The Muslims have also completely removed any mention of the legendary 17th-century war hero Lachit Borphukan, who prevented the Islamic annexation of Assam back in the 1600s. Lachit Borphukan was a commander and Borphukan (general) of the Ahom kingdom in Assam. He was known for his leadership in the 1671 Battle of Saraighat, where he led the Ahom army to a decisive victory against the invading Islamic Mughal forces. The battle was a part of the Ahom–Mughal conflicts and is considered one of the most significant military victories in Assamese history.

For the authorities, it validates and backs their suspicions that Islamic madrassas in the state are not meant to focus on regular academics. Rather, they have been established to eliminate history and groom impressionable young minds for other dangerous motives.

The BJP leaders further lambasted opposition parties like the Congress, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) as well as the influential minority student body Assam Minority Students’ Union (AMSU) for allegedly adopting a policy of wilful Muslim appeasement towards religious fundamentalists in exchange for minority votes. They accused these parties of deliberately ignoring hard evidence regarding the existence of well-entrenched terror mechanisms inside madrassas located along the sensitive riverine regions of the state, which is also very close to Bangladesh, an Islamic country.

The ongoing investigations in Assam are developing, and the authorities are fully alert and vigilant about the consequences that might emerge if such Madrassas are allowed to operate. The government has not sat idle, making significant moves to crack down on Islamic seminaries suspected of anti-India activities. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam, has been very vocal regarding the state administration’s position on radical Islamic madrassas. They passed an important cabinet resolution on December 14, 2020. This decree moved to dissolve all state-sponsored madrassas that were earlier protected within the so-called “secularization” of schooling. The resolution was primarily meant to curb the increasing Islamic extremism that went on inside such seminaries and also to crack down on anti-national activities.

Predictably, opposition parties like the Indian National Congress and the All India United Democratic Front protested; nonetheless, the Assam Repealing Bill 2020 was passed on December 30, 2020. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state’s Chief Minister, stressed that severe disciplinary action would be taken against any Islamic madrassas found to be operating as platforms for seditious agendas that threaten the democratic fabric of the nation.

The government seems to have a tough stance on these madrassas, with zero tolerance for Islamic religious extremism that has the potential to undermine national security. The “woke liberal leftists” have criticized this move and accused the government of singularly targeting Muslim institutions, which reeks of discrimination rather than genuine national interests. However, given the fact that Islamic extremism and Madrassas have a long, synonymous history not just in India but around the whole world, such accusations are indeed baseless and hold no weight. The Assam government continues its uncompromising crackdown on Islamic madrassas in the state and is committed to keeping its citizens safe.

Towards accountability and compliance: All madrasas in Uttarakhand province to be investigated

After the ongoing operations in Uttar Pradesh and Assam, another province, Uttarakhand, has followed the lead and taken similar concrete steps to address the rising menace of madrassas in the state. The Uttarakhand government formed a thrее-mеmbеr committее to survey all existing madrassas in February at the beginning of 2023. The committее was tasked with submitting its report within one month. This decision was made during a review mееting of the Social And Minorities Welfare department in Dеhradun. The survey aimed to probe and assess the functioning of Islamic madrasas in Uttarakhand and ensure that they comply with the prescribed norms. 

The Social Wеlfarе ministеr Chandan Ram Das had directed the principal secretary of the department to establish the committее and stressed the importance of receiving the report within the specified timeframe. In October 2022, the minister urged illegal madrasas that had not sought recognition to do so within a month. Also, the Chiеf Ministеr Pushkar Singh Dhami had previously announced in Sеptеmbеr 2022 that a survey of madrasas would bе conducted to dеtеrminе their prеsеnt status. The survey was еxpеctеd to provide clarity on the current situation of madrassas in Uttarakhand. 

So this clearly shows that there is a political willingness in the right direction, as far as accomplishing this objective is concerned.

According to officials from the Uttarakhand Madarsa Education Board, there are currently 419 madrasas affiliated with the board. The total number of madrasas in Uttarakhand ranges between 800 to 1000. However, this number might be even higher in reality.

The state, known for its beautiful tourist spots, has a substantial Muslim population mainly concentrated in thе Tеrai arеa. Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts have over 34% and 22% Muslim populations, respectively. In addition to the madrasa survey, the government of Uttarakhand is also pushing for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Codе (UCC) in the state that will not recognize Muslim personal laws, especially in areas of marriage and divorce. A draft committее for implementing the UCC has launched an online portal for the public to submit suggestions and objections. The committее will prеparе its final draft based on these inputs. The survey of madrassas in Uttarakhand follows similar initiatives in Assam and Uttar Pradеsh. The government aims to assess the functioning and status of madrasas to ensure compliance with regulations.  

As per the latest developments, on October 10, 2023, the chief minister of Uttarakhand ordered immediate verification of the state’s facilities and health conditions of madrassa students. Dhami’s order came after allegations of the ill-treatment, sexual abuse, and poor health of madrassa students in Nainital.

The systematic crackdown and investigations into Madrassas being carried out in these three provinces- Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and now Uttarakhand- are bound to have a positive ripple effect across the country. Other provinces with a significant Muslim population, such as Bihar, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal, are expected to follow the lead and set the example. 

Millions of Muslim students in India are educated in thousands of madrassas, where they follow a curriculum based on strict Islamic teachings and scriptural doctrines. The authorities must step up comprehensive efforts and employ all possible means towards this objective, which is to thoroughly investigate and probe all Islamic madrassas in every province across the country so that it becomes a regular and recurring practice. This would help keep Islamic extremism in check to a large degree by identifying and addressing the source of the problem.

Islamic institutional landscape in the West: A look at raw numbers and the dire need for oversight in madrassas 

According to TRT World, as of just two years ago, there were about 2300 mosques in France that served more than seven million Muslims.

According to a 2018 article by DW, Germany housed between 2,350 to 2,750 mosque congregations or associations, serving a Muslim population estimated between 4.4 and 4.7 million, encompassing various denominations, ethnic groups, and political views. The actual number could be significantly higher, partly due to Germany’s open-border policy allowing a substantial influx of Islamic migrants in recent years. Additionally, Germany’s constitutional framework, which does not require religious associations to register, has facilitated the establishment of mosques in diverse and unconventional locations like courtyards, industrial districts, and basements.

According to Mohamed Ajana, the Secretary of the Islamic Commission of Spain, there are currently 53 Islamic federations serving the Muslim community in Spain and about 2,000 mosques. In the Netherlands, which hosts one of the highest percentages of Muslim population in Western Europe, there are 475 mosques belonging to the different communities. Almost all of these mosques offer educational programs.

According to the latest statistics available on muslimsinbritain.org, the United Kingdom has been witnessing steady growth in the number of mosques. It was 1743 in 2015, which became 1975 in 2017, and then rose to 2104 in 2019. The website shows the number at 2118 as of December 12, 2023. Slowly and steadily, the number of mosques and Islamic religious institutions is increasing annually across Europe. 

The United States is also not immune to this phenomenon. There has been an alarming increase in the number of mosques in the United States which increased by 31 percent to 2,769 between the years 2010 and 2020. This is according to a US Mosque survey conducted by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. It is also important to note that many of these mosques double up as madrassas as well. There is a complete lack of governance, supervision, and monitoring of what is being taught in such institutions on behalf of the authorities.

It is no secret that the jihadist content of the madrassa curriculum is fed to young minds at an early age. The clerics in the seminaries often promote an ideology that provides religious justification for terror attacks and acts of Islamic violence. Madrassas serve as the training and grooming grounds for militancy in the future, a path the Muslim graduates happily embrace in the quest for martyrdom, which can be obtained by killing infidels. And, of course, the seventy-two dark-eyed virgins that come along with it.

Across the world, in every nation, wherever madrassas are being established, the state should have the authority to appoint teachers and administrators and monitor the curriculum being followed. All madrassas must be nationalized and registered in government records. Their financial activities and sources of income must be scrutinized and audited properly and regularly. All the Islamic madrasas should be transformed into modern-age schools. It is essential that to check and curb the rise of extremism, community, exclusive, organized, and institutionalized religious education must be scrapped. All the students must be taught a curriculum that is uniform and aligned to national standards.

It is recommended that such institutions be monitored through CCTV recording to ensure that no unlawful activities occur. Monitoring can help identify and address any instances of abuse or exploitation within religious seminaries. This is crucial to protect vulnerable individuals, especially children and young adults, who may be more susceptible to manipulation. 

The process of Islamic radicalization is quickly introduced into madrassas, which is an assembly line in the factory of Jihad. Muslim parents willingly send their young children to these seminaries so that they can learn “true Islam” under the guidance of the clerics. The madrassas are equipped ideologically and materially enough to radicalize students enrolled therein. Slowly and gradually, the young students in the madrassas are groomed to hate the usual enemies of Islam, such as Jews, Hindus, and Christians, and they develop their whole worldview according to this “standard template of hate.”

While it is important to strike a balance between religious freedom and government oversight, monitoring in religious seminaries becomes urgent and crucial for individuals’ well-being and society’s overall stability. It is high time that governments across Europe and America wake up to the reality of the harsh and dangerous threat posed by Islamic madrassas that seem to be silently growing in leaps and bounds in the West.

By looking at the relentless crackdowns on Madrassas underway in these three provinces in India, many lessons and best practices can be learned, adopted, and replicated anywhere else across the world. Islamic extremism and radicalism remain a common threat and challenge across nations beyond continents. And Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Uttarakhand are unapologetically poised and determined to nip the menace in the bud, regardless of the endless Hindutva fascism accusations labeled by the Muslim Ummah’s keyboard warriors and online trolls in the country and beyond.

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