Indian media’s latest conspiracy theory targets Muslims with ‘beauty parlour jihad’
Far-right Hindu outfits and media outlets in India continue their campaign of demonizing Muslims, spreading unfounded conspiracy theories, with the latest alleging “beauty parlor jihad”
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Beauty parlors are typically places for self-care and skin treatments, but to India’s far-right Hindu extremists and media outlets, these spaces have become the latest target for their dangerous rhetoric. The latest conspiracy theory — “beauty parlor jihad” — has been aired by Indian news outlets, attempting to link Muslim men working in these establishments to an alleged Islamic plot to indoctrinate Hindu women.
This theory is merely the latest in a string of unfounded claims propagated by India’s Hindu right-wing groups, such as “love jihad,” “vote jihad,” “land jihad,” and “population jihad.” These baseless accusations are part of an ongoing effort to demonize India’s 200 million Muslims, portraying them as a threat to the country’s social fabric.
The theory was given a platform by a letter written by radical Hindu monk Dinesh Falahari, president of the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Falahari alleges an “international conspiracy” involving Muslim men working in beauty parlors.
He claims these men wear “kalawa” (sacred thread) and apply “tilak” on their foreheads to gain the trust of Hindu women, only to later marry them and allegedly sell them into foreign countries. Falahari also linked these claims to the far-right’s narrative of “love jihad,” a term often used to describe a supposed Muslim plot to convert Hindu women through marriage.
Despite the outright absurdity of the claims, Indian media gave airtime to far-right Hindu extremists, offering them uncritical platforms to spread Islamophobic propaganda without a shred of factual basis.
Such campaigns not only vilify and dehumanize Muslims in India but also put their livelihoods at risk. Many Muslims in India work in the informal sector, including beauty parlors, where these unfounded claims can jeopardize their employment opportunities and safety.
The continuing spread of these divisive narratives fuels religious intolerance and deepens social divides in a country already grappling with heightened tensions.
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