India’s Muslims face restrictions on Eid prayers in Uttar Pradesh

Muslims in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district are preparing for Eid al‑Adha amid police advisories that limit public prayers, with mosque committees urging worshippers to pray in shifts and avoid crowding outside mosques [1]. The restrictions come after a decade of right‑wing Hindu groups demanding bans on open‑space prayers, and follow statements by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urging “shift” prayers for the festival [1].

Key takeaways

• Mosque committees in Meerut’s Maliyana village are coordinating prayer shifts and crowd‑control measures to comply with police warnings [2].
• Authorities and Hindu nationalist groups have long opposed public Eid prayers, citing traffic and security concerns [1].
• Past incidents, including a 1987 massacre in Maliyana and recent police actions against open‑space prayers, have heightened Muslim anxiety [1].
• Uttar Pradesh’s BJP government, led by Yogi Adityanath since 2017, has intensified crackdowns on Muslim gatherings [1].
• Community members report that Eid preparations now focus on compliance rather than celebration [2].

Pressure on public worship in Uttar Pradesh

Since the 2014 election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hindu nationalist organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have campaigned to ban namaz on roads, arguing that such gatherings are “shows of strength” by the Muslim community [1]. In response, the Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued directives for Muslims to pray in shifts, warning that non‑compliance could lead to “another method” of enforcement [1]. Local police have circulated advisories on WhatsApp urging Muslims to avoid large congregations, and some communities have reported police chasing worshippers after brief open‑ground prayers [2].

In Maliyana village, about 80 km from New Delhi, mosque committee members are focusing on logistics—securing permissions, arranging barricades, and managing crowd flow—rather than on the festive aspects of Eid [2]. Worshippers are instructed to wait for subsequent prayer shifts if the mosque fills, to avoid arguments, and to refrain from recording videos that could provoke hostility [1]. Similar precautions are being taken in other towns across the state, with volunteers monitoring entry points and dispersing worshippers quickly after prayers [1].

Community response and growing anxiety

The fear of reprisals is palpable. A Muslim man in Meerut, speaking anonymously, said people are “naturally scared” after previous years saw arrests for open‑space prayers, demolition of homes, and even cancellation of driving licences and passports [1]. Shopkeepers in Aligarh recall that last year police chased worshippers from an open ground after a brief prayer [1]. Students at Aligarh Muslim University describe a lingering fear of being filmed or targeted online, prompting parents to keep young people away from mosque exteriors [1].