In an increasingly polarized world marked by rising nationalism and majoritarianism, the responsibility to uphold justice, minority rights, and religious harmony rests on nations like Turkey. These values, long championed by Ankara, face a critical challenge from India’s alarming trajectory under the Modi government. Systemic oppression of Muslims, the erosion of democratic freedoms, and growing majoritarian politics in India demand a serious reevaluation of global partnerships, including Turkey’s approach to New Delhi.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India has experienced a troubling rise in communal violence and religious discrimination. Hindutva, the BJP’s ideological core, emphasizes Hindu supremacy, marginalizing minorities—particularly Muslims. Mob lynchings, hate crimes, and attacks on Muslim places of worship have become disturbingly common, often occurring with little accountability. Laws like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) institutionalize this bias, threatening to disenfranchise millions of Muslims. These policies are not mere administrative decisions but calculated moves to marginalize a significant portion of India’s population.
The state’s complicity is evident in instances where police have been accused of inaction or even participation in anti-Muslim violence. Such actions paint a grim picture of a government that appears to enable communal divisions. For Turkey, which values the protection of minorities and religious tolerance, engaging with such a regime without addressing these issues could undermine its own principles.
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir further highlights these concerns. India’s 2019 revocation of Article 370, stripping the region of its semi-autonomous status, has intensified human rights violations. Curfews, communication blackouts, and mass detentions have stifled dissent and suppressed the political and cultural identity of Kashmiris. As a vocal advocate for the rights of oppressed communities, Turkey has supported Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir, viewing India’s actions as a direct affront to the people’s right to self-determination.
India’s declining global rankings in freedom and press indices underline the erosion of its democratic institutions. Ranking 109th in the Human Freedom Index and 161st in the World Press Freedom Index, the country is facing constraints on political and civil liberties. Marginalized communities, including Muslims, Christians, and Dalits, face systemic discrimination and violence. These realities stand in stark contrast to India’s once-proud legacy as a secular democracy.
India’s regional policies also contribute to instability. Border skirmishes with China and Pakistan, water disputes, and its economic stance toward smaller neighbors like Nepal and Bangladesh strain regional peace. Additionally, India’s close ties with Israel and its confrontational approach toward Muslim-majority nations create further friction, complicating its relationship with Turkey and the broader Muslim world.
These issues present Turkey with a moral dilemma: how to engage with a nation whose policies conflict so starkly with its values. While India’s economic and geopolitical significance cannot be ignored, continued collaboration without addressing these concerns risks compromising Turkey’s commitment to justice and minority rights.
Turkey’s consistent advocacy for religious harmony and the protection of minorities is more than rhetoric—it reflects deeply held principles. India’s current path, fueled by Hindutva ideology, directly challenges these values. Silence in the face of such actions would weaken Turkey’s credibility as a global advocate for justice. Taking a firm stance does not necessitate severing ties with India but calls for a recalibrated approach, conditioning engagement on addressing human rights violations and systemic oppression.
By aligning its foreign policy with its moral values, Turkey reaffirms its commitment to justice and interfaith harmony. It sets an example of principled leadership, championing the rights of oppressed communities while maintaining its role as a beacon of fairness and coexistence in an increasingly divided world.
The author is a gold medalist in Strategic Studies from Air University Islamabad and
currently teaching as visiting faculty in a university based in Islamabad. She regularly
writes on South Asian security and strategic issues.