Burqa Incident in Moradabad: A Microcosm of India's Expanding Anti-Conversion Regime

In January 2026, a video of Muslim girls helping a Hindu friend wear a burqa in Moradabad sparked accusations of forced conversion under Uttar Pradesh's anti-conversion law. Despite initial police clearance, five minors faced charges. Similar incidents across India show how "love jihad" narratives and anti-conversion laws increasingly criminalize interfaith interactions, disproportionately targeting Muslim youth and creating widespread fear among minority communities.