Rejects rapporteur’s report as ‘false’
NEW DELHI: India has strongly rejected criticism of the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 by a United Nations special rapporteur, calling the observations “factually incorrect” and reflective of “hostility” towards the country.
Speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Gaurav Kumar Thakur, Counsellor at India’s UN Mission, dismissed the claims made by Nicolas Levrat, the special rapporteur on minority issues, regarding the law.
Thakur said the Waqf Amendment Act is a “progressive” reform designed to enhance transparency, promote gender equality, and improve the work administration.He added that the legislation empowers minority Muslim sects such as Bohras and Agakhanis by safeguarding their “right to preserve the interests of their own community by establishing their own worship places”.
In his report, Levrat claimed that the Waqf Amendment Act could undermine the ability of Muslim communities to own and operate places of worship. He also noted consultations with the Indian American Muslim Council in New York, as part of his assessment.
UN special rapporteurs are independent experts who present their views in a personal capacity, and their findings do not necessarily represent official positions of the UN.
India criticized the basis of the report, alleging that it relied on inputs from organisations with “political agendas” aimed at portraying the country negatively.
“The tone and content of his comments reflect a clear perceived hostility towards India”, Thakur added. His assertions are “factually incorrect and based on a poor grasp of its background and history”, Thakur said on Tuesday at a session of the Human Rights Council on Tuesday in Geneva.
Reaffirming India’s stance, Thakur said the country remains committed to protecting and empowering ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities while upholding its pluralistic character.
He emphasized that India’s Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens and provides specific protections to minorities, including the right to establish and manage educational institutions.
The Waqf Amendment Act 2025 also introduces measures to improve representation and gender inclusion. It mandates the inclusion of at least two Muslim women in the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards, while also safeguarding women’s inheritance rights.
Additionally, the law ensures broader representation of different Muslim sects in Waqf bodies, aiming to make their governance more inclusive and accountable.
Agencies