A group of Bangladeshi Islamic scholars has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over the closure of 170 madrassas in Haldwani district of India’s Uttarakhand state. In a statement issued Tuesday, the scholars described the move as a blatant display of religious extremism and communal hatred, asserting that it represents a calculated effort to culturally erase a religious minority under the guise of state policy. They argue this decision strikes at the heart of India’s secular identity and pushes Muslim education into decline.

The statement emphasized that such mass closure of religious institutions would be unimaginable in Bangladesh. Drawing a comparison, the scholars noted that if 170 temples were to be shut down in Bangladesh and praised as a “historic decision” by top officials, it would provoke a global outcry involving the UN, human rights organizations, NGOs, and civil society.

They further accused the Indian state of routinely supporting Muslim repression through laws targeting religious practices, educational institutions, and endowments, all without accountability. In contrast, they criticized certain Bangladeshi civil society members and media figures who amplify isolated incidents involving minorities in Bangladesh as evidence of widespread communal violence, damaging the country’s global image.

The scholars concluded by calling this not just a case of double standards, but part of a global narrative war against Muslim identity. They called upon conscious voices, thinkers, scholars, and organizations across the Muslim world to unite against such communal aggression.