Mob attacks foreign students for offering Taraweeh in India

A mob in the western Indian state of Gujarat, armed with knives and sticks, attacked a university hostel where foreign students were offering prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.

India Today reported the arrest of two attackers after the country's Interior Ministry vowed strict action against the perpetrators. 

Since the Ahmedabad University campus lacks a mosque, the foreign students performed taraweeh prayers within their hostel. 

On Saturday night, during the prayer, a group of unidentified individuals attacked and vandalised Gujarat University's boys' hostel.

“A group of 15 students were offering prayers when three people came and started shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ [Hail lord Ram]. They objected to us praying here,” a student told the local media.

According to Indian Express, the mob attack left two foreign students seriously injured, who are currently hospitalised, while many of them hailed from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and several African countries.

“We came to India to study and now we’re being attacked just because it’s time for Ramadan and Muslims were praying. Now they’re breaking down the bikes, everything is being demolished down [stairs],” an African student spoke to the Indian media.

Video circulating on social media showed images of ransacked dorms and a group of people using long tools to destroy students' motorbikes.

International students (Africa, Uzbekistan, Afganistan etc) studying in Gujarat University @gujuni1949 claim they were beaten up, Stones thrown at them and at their hostel (A-Block), Vehicles destroyed while they were offering Ramazan Taraweeh at a place inside the hostel A-Block… pic.twitter.com/ogJ3h7FUin

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) March 16, 2024

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik informed at a press briefing that a group of 20-25 people approached students, asking “why they were praying here and should instead go the mosque.”

“An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted and their rooms were vandalised by the people who came from outside,” he added.

The Police Commissioner said that the police received a complaint against 20-25 people in connection with a recent incident. One suspect has been identified, and nine teams have been established for investigation.