Migration, religious identity and human rights: the case of Bangladeshi Muslims in India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18543/djhr.3412
Keywords: Bangladeshi Muslim immigration, religions, India, public policies, islamophobia, Hindu authoritarianism

Abstract

This article explores and examines the representation in the discourses of political parties in India about Bangladeshi Muslim migrants in the country, delving in particular into the recent Hindu nationalistic rhetoric. In order to do so, it analyses the discriminatory rhetorical questions as well as exclusionary socio-political practices and examine them through a critical discourse lens. It begins by contextualizing major political and historic events in South Asia that enable us to understand and situate the present-day debates regarding Bangladeshi Muslim immigration in India. Next, it analyses the Citizenship Amendment Act (2019) to investigate the impact on religion as a stratifying element of the rights of Muslim migrants. Finally, it briefly highlights and exemplifies religious diversity and inclusion in political processes in order to design public policies that do not violate the secular principles of the Constitution.

Received: 24 November 2025; Accepted: 23 February 2026

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Author Biographies

Khushbu Kumar, Universidad de Jaén, Spain

M.A. in Political Science, University of Delhi, Sun. New Delhi. PhD Researcher at Migration Studies Programme. University of Granada-Jaén-Pablo Olavide.

María Belén Blázquez Vilaplana, Universidad de Jaén, Spain

Tenured University Professor in the field of Political Science and Public Administration, Department of Public and Special Private Law (University of Jaén). Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Granada with the dissertation El impulso del presidente del gobierno español a los procesos democráticos y de paz en Nicaragua y El Salvador 1982-1996. Associate Dean for Quality and Equality at the School of Social Work, University of Jaén. Academic Coordinator of the Master’s Program in Critical Analysis of Social Inequalities and Comprehensive Intervention in Gender-Based Violence (Ujaen). She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Granada, in the School of Political Science and Sociology. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she earned a master’s degree in Critical Theories of Law and Democracy in Ibero-America (at the International University of Andalusia, Santa María de La Rábida Ibero-American Campus) and, upon completing it, received a fellowship at the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) for the training of young researchers. She received the award for the highest academic standing in the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology (academic year 94-95) and for the highest academic standing in Social and Legal Sciences among Andalusian public universities (academic year 94-95). She also won the first National Prize in Political Science and Public Administration. Since 2000, she has been a professor in the Political Science and Public Administration Division of the Department of Public and Special Private Law at the University of Jaén. Previously, she was a Fellow.

Belén Agrela-Romero, Universidad de Jaén, Spain

Tenured Professor at the University of Jaén. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Sociology, diploma in Social Work, Ph.D. in Gender Studies and Migration Studies. She completed her doctoral dissertation on “An Anthropological Analysis of Social Policies Aimed at the Immigrant Population” (2006) in the Department of Social Work at the University of Granada. She has been recognized for 5 six-year research periods (4 for research and 1 for knowledge transfer) and 4 five-year periods. Local coordinator of the “Migration Studies” doctoral program (UJA-UPO-UGR). Member of the research group: “Care Management and Evaluation of Healthcare Policies in Chronic Conditions, Aging, and Palliative Care” (CTS-990) at the University of Jaén. She teaches in the Social Work undergraduate program at the University of Jaén. She also teaches in various master’s programs at the University of Jaén (UJA): “Critical Analysis of Gender Inequalities and Comprehensive Intervention in Gender-Based Violence” (UJA); “Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship in Social and Health Care Centers and Services” (UJA). She also teaches at the University of Granada in the “Erasmus Mundus Master’s Program in Women’s and Gender Studies.” Director of the “Expert in Community-Based Violence Management” program (2018–2019–2020). She served as a Marie Curie researcher as a Visiting Marie Curie Fellow at the SPIRIT-Europe Doctoral School, University of Aalborg, Denmark (2000–2001). She has completed several research stays: 2 in Canada (Université du Québec à Montréal and Université de Montréal); 2 in Denmark: the SPIRIT-Europe Doctoral School at Aalborg University, Denmark; and 2 in the U.S.: as a Visiting Fellow in the Researcher-in-Residence Program at the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies. University of California, San Diego; and at the University of San Francisco, California, in the Department of International Studies. One in the United Kingdom: at the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) at the University of Birmingham, UK. She has numerous publications and has led research projects on gender, migration, social work, violence, and intercultural education. She led the European project “Proximity on Violence: Part of Defense and Equity” (Justice Program, REC-VAW-AG-2016), funded by the European Commission (2017–2019), carried out in Italy, Belgium, Spain, and France (http://www.provide-eu.com/). Participa en las investigaciones: investigación I+D+i titulada “Atención a la diversidad y educación inclusiva en la universidad. Diagnóstico y evaluación de indicadores de institucionalización” (Ref. EDU2017-82862-R) dirigido por D. José Luis Álvarez y Dª María García-Cano (http://www.uco.es/incluni/index.php/es/ ) y en la investigación europea NET-CARE: Networking and Care for Refugee and Migrant Women (Ref. 856909) financiada por la Comisión Europea, Directorate General Justice and Consumers. Programme and Financial management.

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Published
2026-06-26
How to Cite
Kumar, Khushbu, María Belén Blázquez Vilaplana, and Belén Agrela-Romero. 2026. “Migration, Religious Identity and Human Rights: The Case of Bangladeshi Muslims in India”. Deusto Journal of Human Rights, no. 17 (June), 229-58. https://doi.org/10.18543/djhr.3412.
Issue
No. 17 (2026): Religions, diversities and human rights: Public policies for democratic coexistence
Section
Articles

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