India’s Muslims Denied Public Spaces for Eid Prayers Amid Rising Islamophobia

In Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, preparations for Eid al-Adha are marked by caution rather than celebration. Inside a small mosque in Maliyana village, worshippers and mosque committee members discuss not only prayer arrangements but also police permissions, road access, barricades, and how to avoid confrontation. Community leaders are urging people not to gather at mosque gates, not to argue, and not to react to provocations, reflecting a growing sense of unease among Muslims ahead of the festival.

The anxiety is rooted in a wider crackdown on public Muslim prayers in India, especially in BJP-governed states. For more than a decade, right-wing Hindu groups and some politicians have opposed namaz in roads, parks, and open plots, often citing traffic and security concerns. Viral videos of Muslims praying in public have repeatedly sparked outrage online and, in some cases, prompted authorities to withdraw permissions for such gatherings. Last week, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanded a nationwide ban on road prayers, calling them a display of strength by the Muslim community.

In Uttar Pradesh, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken a hard line on public Muslim prayer, mosque committees say the pressure has intensified. Adityanath recently said Muslims should offer Eid prayers “in shifts,” and warned that if they do not agree peacefully, “another method” would be used. Many Muslims say that message has deepened fear, especially after past incidents in which people were booked for praying in open spaces and some reported wider administrative pressure, including demolitions and verifications.

Across towns and cities in the state, mosque committees are quietly altering plans. Some are reducing congregation sizes, asking worshippers to arrive in smaller groups, or arranging volunteers to make sure people do not spill onto nearby roads. In Meerut, residents say even ordinary religious gatherings now feel like security risks. Some worshippers worry about police action, while others fear being filmed, publicly shamed, or accused online.

The concern extends beyond Eid prayers. Muslims interviewed in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi described a broader atmosphere of vulnerability, shaped by disputes over hijab, halal food, loudspeaker calls to prayer, and other expressions of Muslim identity. Many say they now think carefully about where they stand, how long they remain outside mosques, and whether any public gathering might attract complaints or hostility.

Critics argue that the enforcement is uneven. While Muslim prayers in open spaces are increasingly restricted, large Hindu religious processions often receive traffic diversions, police protection, and logistical support. That contrast, they say, reinforces perceptions of selective policing and unequal treatment under the law. For many Muslims, the issue is no longer just about prayer space. It is about whether public visibility itself is being treated as suspect.

Even so, Eid preparations continue. Markets are busy, tailors are working late, and mosques are being cleaned for the expected crowds. But beneath the familiar festival routine lies a clear unease: for many Muslims, even prayer has become something to worry about.