Asad Ashraf
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Articles by Asad Ashraf
‘Future at stake’: India moves to demolish university Muslim leader founded Original
Rampur, India – More than 100 people sit cross-legged on mats, braving the brutal July heat, as they raise slogans and wave the national flag in a north Indian town. Barely 200km (132 miles) from the capital, New Delhi, where thousands of youths demanding education reforms just forced a minister to resign, a group of students, alumni and residents are holding an indefinite sit-in to oppose the planned demolition of 38 of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University’s 40 buildings.
‘Future at stake’: India moves to demolish university Muslim leader founded
CBFC Cuts Kissing Scenes From Spider-Man: Brand New Day Ahead Of India Release—Censor Or Spoiler? CBFC has previously snipped a 33-second-long romantic scene in James Gunn’s Superman (2025). The latest cut is just the archaic regulatory body following its tradition. Tom Holland and Zendaya-starrer Spider-Man: Brand New Day has become a brand-new headache for the Marvel fans owing to the CBFC's …
Amid Clamour of Cockroaches, AISA Quietly Holds Fort of Student Politics
AISA has, through the decades, been an unusually effective training ground for leaders. I still remember the corridor outside the All India Students' Association (AISA) room in Jamia Millia Islamia, on evenings before a general body meeting, when pamphlets sat in stacks by the door and everyone lowered their voice without being told to.
Why India’s Heat Crisis Falls Hardest on Dalits and Muslims
India’s caste system has long assigned the most physically exposed forms of labour to the communities least able to refuse them. That old arrangement has taken on new urgency as summer temperatures push past the limits of human endurance. Sections of the Muslim community also bear a disproportionate burden during heatwaves because of residential exclusion.
A Telegram Bot Is Selling Indians’ Personal Data for ₹2.50 Per Search
Another user, who also requested anonymity, told Newsreel Asia that he had been using the bot to market and sell products by targeting customers on the basis of geographic, demographic and vehicle-related data, which he said helps determine a person’s income group. “I have been using this bot for some time to grow my online business by targeting customers through carefully selected data, and the results so far have been positive,” he said.
For India’s Informal Workers, Heatwaves Expose the Limits of the Labour Codes
Summers in much of India have always been tough, but what is happening now is far more severe. It is a public health emergency unfolding under the guise of a weather event. In recent years, temperatures have remained above 40°C for days at a stretch, leading to tens of thousands of suspected heatstroke cases across the country.
Muslim Gig Workers: His Name Was Bad for Business, So He Buried It
The Infrastructure That Doesn’t Notice The gig economy was supposed to make work fairer. By removing middlemen and allowing ratings to guide decisions, the market was expected to become more equitable. But it overlooked the basic truth that markets are never neutral. They absorb the prejudices of their users, and without safeguards against those prejudices, platforms become part of the problem, whether intentionally or otherwise.
Faith, Crime and the Algorithm: Story of Salim Wastik and the Ex-Muslim Network
Salim Wastik, an ex-Muslim influencer unmasked as a murderer, shows how outrage and algorithms profit online. (Doing such in-depth stories requires resources and often comes at risk to the reporter. Become a member and support our journalism.) I. The Man Who Wasn't There For more than two decades, the man who would later call himself Salim Wastik moved through the margins of north Indian cities, operating under a succession of names and addresses. He changed his appearance. He changed his story.
How Israel-Iran War Narrowed Sunni-Shia Divide Among Indian Muslims
Many Sunnis in India joined Shia Muslims to protest against US-Israel's war with Iran. Wars in West Asia have always travelled far beyond their geography. They shape conversations in mosques and universities, influence political imagination in distant societies and sometimes reconfigure relationships within Muslim communities themselves.
Najeeb Jung, Shut Up!
I refuse to take lectures on democracy, Muslims, or constitutional values from Najeeb Jung. I refuse not out of ideological disagreement alone, but because I remember. I remember not through hindsight or commentary, but through lived experience. Through the tightening of the chest. Through the goosebumps that still rise when certain sentences return, years later, without warning. I was suspended from Jamia Millia Islamia for leading a students’ protest. That is not rhetoric. It is my life.
असं काय झालं असतं, जर उमर खालिद आणि शर्जील इमाम यांना जामीन दिला गेला असता तर…?
असद अशरफ जेव्हा एखादी कायदेशीर प्रक्रिया केवळ व्यक्तीला दोषी-निर्दोष ठरवण्यापुरती, गुन्हेगारीपुरती मर्यादित न राहता राष्ट्राच्या नैतिक आरोग्याचं प्रतीक बनते, तेव्हा तो काळ त्या राष्ट्राच्या पुढच्या वाटचालीत निर्णायक असा असतो. आपला भारत सध्या अशाच एका वळणावर उभा आहे. शर्जील इमाम,उमर खालिद यांना ज्या प्रकारे अनेक वर्षे जामीन नाकारून तुरुंगात डांबून ठेवण्यात आले आहे, तो आता केवळ कायदेशीर प्रक्रियेचा भाग राहिलेला नाही; तर तो आपल्या घटनात्मक नैतिकतेचा प्रश्न बनला आहे.
Society Roundup 2025: An Annual Report on Being Human
This year’s stories scanned a world in flux: how Hindi is displacing Punjabi among urban elites, how the ancient rhythms of Ramzan are challenged by the patriarchy, and how a 2019 women-led protest cleared room for a new Muslim public sphere. We tracked how Bengal’s football stands go political, and how Sholay’s angry young man occupies a sanitised identity.
Why a Jamia Professor's Question on Muslim Rights Got Him Suspended & What it Means for Jamia
Professor Shahare’s suspension is not an administrative footnote. It goes to the heart of what Jamia claims to be. Hue the aake yahin khemazan woh deewaney Uthhe the sun ke jo aawaz-e-rehbaraan-e-watan. (They came and pitched their tents right here, those dreamers, who rose to become the voice of the nation’s conscience.) These lines from Jamia Millia Islamia’s Tarana are not ornamental nostalgia. They are a reminder of why Jamia was founded and what it once promised.
Jamia Prof's Suspension: The Institutional Erosion of a Culture of Resistance
‘Bengaluru Should Be India’s Capital’: Delhi Woman ‘Feel Safe’ At 10 PM, Questions ‘Gas Chamber’ AQI In NCR Delhi girl compared her life in Bengaluru, where she feels relaxed while stepping out late at night and does not worry much about safety. A woman from …
Debris of a Dream: A Muslim Growing Up in the Shadow of Babri Masjid Demolition
(The Quint has consistently been the leading news organisation breaking stories on communal violence and hate crimes and carrying out in-depth investigations on communal issues. These investigations involve a lot of work and often come at great personal risk to our reporters who are on the ground. We need your support as we continue to bring out more such investigations and voices from the ground.
Debris of a Dream: A Muslim Growing Up in the Shadow of Babri Masjid Demolition
Andrabi said that we appeal to the UN and the global community to understand the importance of protecting the religious heritage of Muslims. New …
Shaheen Bagh’s Legacy: A New Muslim Civil Society in India
In the lanes of North-East Delhi scarred by the 2020 riots, which left indelible marks on communities, Sunrise Public School in Loni stands as a beacon of renewal. It educates nearly 800 children and has brought back laughter and learning into their lives.
बिहार चुनाव: AIMIM को बाहर रखने से महागठबंधन खुद के पांव पर कुल्हाड़ी मार रहा है
AIMIM ने महागठबंधन से जुड़कर वोट बंटवारे को रोकने का रास्ता बताया, लेकिन गठबंधन ने भरोसा दिखाने के बजाय दूरी बना ली. जैसे-जैसे बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव नजदीक आ रहा है, वैसे-वैसे गठबंधन, दलबदल और राजनीतिक सौदेबाजी का वही पुराना खेल फिर से शुरू हो गया है. इसी हलचल के बीच एक बड़ा विरोधाभास सामने आता है: राष्ट्रीय जनता दल (RJD), कांग्रेस और वाम दलों वाले महागठबंधन ने लंबे समय से असदुद्दीन ओवैसी की ऑल इंडिया मजलिस-ए-इत्तेहादुल मुस्लिमीन (AIMIM) पर 'धर्मनिरपेक्ष' वोटों को बांटने का आरोप लगाता रहा है.
When a Friday fell silent: The lasting scars of Batla House
It was a Friday in September 2008, deep in the holy month of Ramadan, when the sound of gunfire ripped through the heart of Jamia Nagar. I was an undergraduate student at Jamia Millia Islamia then, barely twenty, still clumsy in my ideas of politics, faith and responsibility. Until that day, my world was small and sheltered, revolving around the university canteen, hostel corridors, late-night walks in Zakir Nagar, and the buoyant sense that life would keep unfolding without disruption.
Splitting the Split: How Bihar Mahagathbandhan Weakens Itself by Excluding AIMIM Original
The Mahagathbandhan’s refusal to accommodate AIMIM represents a self-inflicted wound, writes Asad Ashraf. The Quint has also carried a Counterview in response to this View regarding AIMIM's fortunes in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections in Bihar. Read the Counterview here. As Bihar gears up for its next Assembly election, the familiar drama of alliances, defections, and negotiations has begun to unfold.
Selective atheism and political opportunism: The Javed Akhtar debate
The controversy surrounding Javed Akhtar’s removal from an Urdu festival in Kolkata is not merely about free speech—it exposes the contradictions of selective atheism and the political opportunism it enables.
๐ I Do My Best ๐
๐ I Do My Best ๐ Every day, I wake up with the goal to improve. Whether itโs learning something new, helping someone, or simply staying kind โ I always try to do my best. Doing my best doesnโt mean I have to be perfect. It means giving my full effort, no matter how hard things get. Sometimes I fail, but I learn. Sometimes I fall, but I get back up. Thatโs what matters. I do my best in school, at home, with friends, and even when no one is watching.
A Voice from Bastar: Soni Sori on Adivasi Struggles Amid Conflict and Control
Illustration of Soni Sori PreludeThis interview with Soni Sori, a prominent Adivasi activist and tireless voice for tribal rights in Chhattisgarh, comes at a time when tensions in Bastar are running high. Clashes between security forces and Maoists have intensified, especially after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent declaration that Naxalism will be eradicated by March 31, 2026.
Why BJP’s triple-engine sarkar may struggle in Delhi despite mayoral poll sweep
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has solidified its dominance over Delhi’s civic governance, with Raja Iqbal Singh elected Mayor and Jai Bhagwan Yadav elected Deputy Mayor. The sweeping victory, securing 133 of 142 votes, fulfils the BJP’s ambitious “triple engine” vision, aligning the Centre, Delhi state and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) under its leadership.
Fear grips Kashmiri students amid threats in several states after Pahalgam attack
Panic has gripped Kashmiri students studying outside their home state in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, with right-wing outfits issuing threats, landlords asking for homes to be vacated, and locals demonising the Kashmiri Muslim community in various parts of the country.
On and off the grid: The reality behind Delhi’s complex ‘power’ play
The narrative surrounding power cuts is a complex mosaic in Delhi, with some neighbourhoods enduring hours-long blackouts while others enjoy uninterrupted electricity, sparking debates over the issue’s true scope. Areas such as Sangam Vihar, Burari, Nangloi, and Kondli report disruptions, while Kalkaji and Janakpuri experience stable power, highlighting a city of stark contrasts.
Is India doing enough? Palestinian envoy opens up on Gaza war
As Gaza reels under what he calls a “textbook genocide”, Palestinian Ambassador to India Abdullah Mohammad A. Abu Shawesh says the region faces not just destruction, but a systematic erasure. In an exclusive interview with The Federal, the ambassador reflects on India’s diplomatic stance, the crisis in Gaza, and the shifting global alliances shaping Palestine’s future. He also opens up about the deep personal toll of representing his people while his own family is under siege in Gaza.
Strong stance against Waqf law signals marked shift from AAP's known praxis
The aggressive counter-strike that a united Opposition launched against the Centre’s controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament last week had a surprise participant.
'Religious, social and political blow': What Urdu media says about Waqf Bill
The Urdu media in India sees the Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed inParliament as a threat to religious autonomy, minority rights and cultural heritage. Newspapers like Roznama Hindustan, Rashtriya Sahara and Urdu Times, dissecting its implications for the Muslim community, have voiced concern and criticism. Qaumi Bharat adds its voice to the chorus. Introduced on April 2, the bill seeks to expand government control over Waqf properties. Notably, the Inquilab newspaper has remained silent.
Delhi Mayoral election: A high-stakes battle for MCD control
With just weeks remaining until Delhi’s mayoral elections, the political landscape of the national capital is heating up as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mounts a determined campaign to wrest control of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
RTI vs DPDP: Activists battle Centre’s data law
With the Centre likely to finalise rules for operationalising the controversial Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act next month, RTI activists have intensified efforts to build pressure on the Centre to revisit, if not repeal, provisions of the law that they claim would sound the death knell for the Right to Information Act.
Voices from Delhi’s Yamuna evictions
Under the soft haze of dawn, the Yamuna flows quietly; the air along its floodplains rancid with the mingling odours of a heavily-polluted river, damp garbage-laden earth, and smoke billowing from wood stoves in makeshift shanties of Delhi’s “urban poor” waking up to another day filled with the threat of eviction. Since the BJP stormed to power in Delhi last month, displacing the AAP, “cleaning the Yamuna” has been its avowed priority.
Detained scholar Badar Khan Suri studied conflict, held no radical ideology: classmates
A judge of the Eastern District of Virginia Court in the United States has ordered the US administration against deporting Badar Khan Suri, an Indian visiting scholar at America’s Georgetown University, back to India. Suri was detained by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earlier this week under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Suri was arrested outside of his apartment building in Rosslyn, Virginia, charged with removability and detained on Monday (March 17) night.
Waqf Bill: History will never forgive this betrayal, Owaisi tells Naidu, Nitish
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday (March 17) slammed the BJP government for policies that “disproportionately impact the Muslim community” while urging NDA leaders like Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu and Chirag Paswan to reconsider their support to the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024.
Sambhal Ground Report: No violence on Holi yet uneasy calm prevails in UP town
In the pre-dawn hours, an eerie silence hangs over the historic town of Sambhal in western Uttar Pradesh. Normally, its labyrinthine alleys would be abuzz with traders setting up their stalls and tea vendors pouring steaming cups for early risers. Today, however, the mood is subdued.
Mystery death of girl in Varanasi hostel raises political temperature in poll-bound Bihar
Over a month after a 17-year-old girl from Bihar’s Sasaram was found hanging in her hostel room in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, her mysterious death has triggered a political row. The teen, a Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) aspirant, was found dead at the Rameshwaram Girls' Hostel in Varanasi’s Bhelupur area, on February 1. No suicide note was found.
Family accuses Centre of concealing Shahzadi Khan's execution in UAE
“I don’t have any time left, Abba. My time is over...I don’t know if I’ll be able to make another call.” These were the final, heart-wrenching words of 33-year-old Shahzadi Khan, spoken to her father on the night of February 14, 2025. Less than 24 hours later, she was executed in an Abu Dhabi prison—alone, far from home, and without her family being informed. For nearly three weeks, her loved ones clung to hope, waiting for a voice that had already been silenced.
Integration or othering tactics? What's behind BJP's Sufi outreach?
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has long sought to redefine Muslim representation in India by strategically engaging with specific sects and communities within Islam. By reaching out to Shias, Bohras, Pasmandas, Ahmadis, Agha Khanis, and Sufis, the party aims to create internal divisions while simultaneously reinforcing its broader Hindutva politics.
Maharashtra: Govt Mulls Law On 'Love Jihad'; Sets Up 7-Member Panel To Study Legal Aspects
National The panel includes secretaries of the women and child welfare, minority affairs, law and judiciary, social justice and special assistance departments, and deputy secretaries of the home department.
Bihar Naxal Movement: How Bhojpur’s Struggle for Dignity Shaped Modern Politics
In Bihar’s Bhojpur district, 35 kilometres from the town of Arrah, lies the village of Ekwari. The day a Frontline team visited the village in mid-October, the afternoon sun cast a golden glow over fields where farmers and labourers toiled, their silhouettes blending with the landscape. Although peaceful today, this village was once the epicentre of the naxalite movement in Bihar and still bears the weight of past tensions rooted in caste and class.
Bihar Naxal Movement: How Bhojpur’s Struggle for Dignity Shaped Modern Politics
In Bihar’s Bhojpur district, 35 kilometres from the town of Arrah, lies the village of Ekwari. The day a Frontline team visited the village in mid-October, the afternoon sun cast a golden glow over fields where farmers and labourers toiled, their silhouettes blending with the landscape. Although peaceful today, this village was once the epicentre of the naxalite movement in Bihar and still bears the weight of past tensions rooted in caste and class.
In Koilwar, Bihar, an Oral Agreement Made Before Partition Assures Communal Harmony
“Nafraton ke jahaan mein humko pyaar ki bastiyan basaani hain, Dur rehna koi kamaal nahi, paas aao toh koi baat baney.” (Let us build colonies of love in this world of hatred. Staying away is no great feat; come closer and let the magic begin.) The Urdu poet Sahir Ludhianvi’s words resonate deeply in the small town of Koilwar (Koelwar), located 40 kilometres from Patna, the capital of Bihar.
Breaking Barriers: How Dalit Journalists Are Redefining Indian Media in the Digital Age
In an era where the digital world offers an open stage for all voices, marginalized communities in India are breaking through barriers, telling their stories, and challenging the mainstream narrative. Among these, Dalit journalists have emerged as powerful voices, creating their own platforms to spotlight issues that traditional media have long ignored. One such voice is Sumit Chauhan, the founder of DalitView, a YouTube channel that now commands a significant following.
For Those Who Hold Justice Dear, AG Noorani’s Death Feels Like a Personal Loss Original
His extensive body of work, from legal texts to critical columns, will continue to educate and inspire. Published: With a heavy heart and profound respect, we bid farewell to Abdul Ghafoor Majeed Noorani, a towering figure in Indian legal thought and public intellect. His passing at the age of 93 marks the end of an era—one defined by a relentless pursuit of justice, profound intellectual rigour, and a commitment to the principles that undergirded modern India’s democratic framework.
Why are activists saying HD Revanna should have been denied bail?
When a special court in Bengaluru granted the Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Revanna bail on May 13 in a kidnapping case, activists were dismayed. On May 20, the same court went on to grant Revanna bail in a case involving alleged sexual harassment, among other offences.
'Life Imprisonment For Love Jihad': Assam Govt To Introduce New Laws Soon | Details Inside
Himanta Biswa Sarma | Photo: PTI Himanta Biswa Sarma | Photo: PTI Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday revealed that New laws including strict punishment for 'love jihad' andnew domicile policy will soon be introduced by his government. Sarma was speaking at the state BJP executive meeting in Guwahati where he reportedly said, “We spoke about ‘love jihad’ during the elections.
Ram Rahim Seeks Fresh 21-Day Parole After Getting 7 In 10 Months, Punjab And Haryana HC Raises Question
Rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim | Photo: PTI Rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim | Photo: PTI After getting a 50-day-long seventh parole in January within a span of just 10 months, rape convict self-proclaimed godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim has filed another petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for a fresh 21-day parole. In his petition, he mentioned that parole was needed to participate in a programme hosted by the Dera Sacha Sauda.
Failure To Connect With People Cost Congress Madhya Pradesh Original
As the dust settles on the Lok Sabha election results, the I.N.D.I.A bloc and Congress appear rejuvenated, having secured a total of 234 seats, with Congress contributing 99 to that tally. However, Madhya Pradesh remained a significant setback for the alliance. In this state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a clean sweep, winning all 29 seats it contested, surpassing its 2019 performance when it had won 28 seats, leaving only one seat to the Congress.
Inside WhatsApp Groups Of Housing Societies Where Muslim Hate Is Real
Three years ago, 38-year-old Zee (name changed) experienced profound distress as hateful messages inundated her Gurugram housing society's WhatsApp groups. Fueled by a section of mainstream media's focus on Tablighi Jamaat members as Covid spreaders in 2020, these messages triggered nightmares of her home being attacked. The relentless onslaught of discriminatory messages took a toll on Zee's mental health, leading to a diagnosis of clinical depression.
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