The increasing influx of Muslims into specific enclaves in New Delhi, such as Jamia Nagar, highlights the community’s search for safety amidst rising Islamophobia and segregation. Following the 2020 riots and a surge in anti-Muslim hate speech, many Muslims are relocating to areas where they feel safer among their community.
Nasreen and her husband Tofik, formerly residents of Shiv Vihar, are among those who relocated due to the violence. During the 2020 riots, Tofik was pushed from a second-floor building by a mob, resulting in a permanent limp. Seeking safety, they moved to Loni, a less developed area with a larger Muslim population. Despite poorer infrastructure and job prospects, Tofik feels more secure there.
Jamia Nagar, already a sanctuary for Muslims during communal riots, is now overflowing due to increased demand. Despite a construction boom, space remains limited. Real estate agent Raes Khan noted that Muslim clients prefer homes in Muslim-majority areas, reflecting a widespread fear of violence.
Raphael Susewind, a political anthropologist at the London School of Economics, attributes this segregation to rising Islamophobia under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power since 2014. Six Muslim community leaders corroborated this, citing significant anecdotal evidence of increased segregation.
Muslims moving to enclaves face economic and social challenges. Nasreen’s daughter, Muskan, had to drop out of an underresourced school in Loni. Similarly, Malika, who lost her husband in the riots, struggles with poverty and job insecurity after relocating.
The segregation trend is not limited to Delhi. Modi’s home state of Gujarat hosts India’s largest Muslim enclave, housing around 400,000 people. This segregation underscores the broader issue of rising Islamophobia in India, driving Muslims to seek safety in numbers, often at the cost of economic and social stability.
The rising Islamophobia and resultant segregation in Delhi and other parts of India highlight the urgent need for addressing communal tensions and ensuring the safety and integration of all communities. The situation calls for comprehensive measures to combat hate speech and violence, fostering a more inclusive and secure environment for all citizens.
