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A new joint complaint submitted to the UN Human Rights Council is calling for international action against serious abuses against Muslims in Uttar Pradesh.

Human rights organisation REDRESS and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) submitted the complaint earlier this week. It draws on documentation by Indian human rights organisations and experts, as well as findings of the Panel of Independent International Experts (PIIE), which published a report in 2026, examining the violations of international law against Muslims in UP and Assam between July 2022 to January 2026.

The complaint highlights allegations of unlawful killings of Muslims by police in “encounters”, torture and ill-treatment in police custody, violence by non-state vigilante groups. It also points to the use of criminal and administrative laws to arbitrarily detain and silence Muslims. These concerns, the organisations argue, exist alongside the wider patterns of discrimination, anti-Muslim hate speech and alleged incitement by state officials.

The complaint comes amidst growing international scrutiny. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has previously raised concerns about discrimination and violence against religious and ethnic minorities in India. In February 2026, UN experts also raised concerns over alleged extrajudicial killings and deaths linked to torture involving law enforcement.

REDRESS and OMCT are calling on the UN to consider an independent fact-finding mechanism, measures to preserve evidence, and the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on India. They have also called for effective investigations, accountability, stronger safeguards against arbitrary detention, and human-rights and anti-torture training for police, prison staff, security personnel and judicial authorities.

The complaint could bring greater international attention to the treatment of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India. This could also create pressure on Indian authorities. But will this International attention lead to wider support and result in actually changing what Muslims in India have to experience on the ground every day, or will their allegations remain documented in reports while accountability and justice continues to remain out of reach?