Muslims forced to flee homes even after bail in Iftar case in India
Eight accused in Shravasti, fourteen more jailed in Varanasi, as critics call crackdown religiously targeted
SHRAVASTI, India (MNTV) — Eight Muslim men, who families say fled their homes despite being granted bail, fear further police action after their arrest in connection with an iftar gathering in Uttar Pradesh’s Shravasti district.
The arrests stem from a March 17 incident at the Sonpathri Mai Sidhinath Ashram inside the Sohailwa Wildlife Division, near the India-Nepal border. Police allege the men consumed non-vegetarian food during their Ramadan fast-breaking meal and disposed of leftovers in a stream on ashram grounds.
The eight, five from Shravasti and three from Bahraich, were booked under a complaint filed by the ashram head and for alleged violations of forest conservation laws.
Families of the accused deny the charges, disputing police claims about the men’s presence at the site and alleging misconduct during the arrests, including forcible entry into homes.
A parallel case in Varanasi saw fourteen individuals arrested on similar grounds, allegedly consuming non-vegetarian food while breaking their fast on a boat on the Ganga and disposing of waste in the river. Those accused remain in custody.
Both cases have drawn sharp criticism. Opposition leader Asaduddin Owaisi called the arrests a “witch-hunt,” questioning why comparable legal action is not taken against larger, documented sources of river pollution, including industrial discharge and sewage.
Critics say these cases show that the law is being applied unfairly, focusing on Muslim religious practices during Ramadan, which raises worries about how environmental laws are being used and the decreasing freedom for minority religions in Uttar Pradesh.
Police assert that they based their actions on evidence and acted swiftly to avert a law-and-order crisis. Investigations are ongoing.
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