Ilhan Omar

US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who has frequently drawn criticism in India for her remarks on the country, is facing a strong backlash after claiming that India is in the “eighth stage of genocide.”

Her comments, made during an event organised by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), triggered widespread criticism on social media, with several Indian Muslim women leading the response.

Speaking at the event, Omar had alleged that reports coming out of India place the country at the “eighth stage of genocide” and claimed that the situation was becoming “systematic” and “societal.” The remarks quickly sparked outrage, with critics accusing her of once again promoting an anti-India narrative based on selective and misleading claims.

The controversy is significant because the sharpest criticism did not come from political leaders or government representatives, but from Indian Muslim women who said Omar’s portrayal of their lives bears little resemblance to reality.

Muslim women push back

One of the X users, Ambreen Zaidi, mocked Omar’s claims and said she was unaware that she belonged to a supposedly “genocide-facing minority.”

“I work. I write. I speak my mind, meet people, celebrate festivals and move around freely,” Zaidi wrote, questioning the basis of Omar’s allegations.

A much longer rebuttal came from Arshia Malik, an Indian Muslim woman, who accused Omar of spreading “reckless, fact-free propaganda.” Malik argued that India’s Muslim population has steadily grown since Independence, making allegations of genocide impossible to reconcile with demographic realities.

She pointed out that Muslims accounted for around 9.8 per cent of India’s population in 1951 and over 14 per cent by 2011, with projections suggesting further growth in the coming decades. According to Malik, genocide results in mass displacement and population decline, not sustained growth over several generations.

Highlighting ground reality

Malik also highlighted the participation of Muslims in India’s democratic, social and economic life. She noted that Muslims vote in elections, contest public office, serve as judges, civil servants, military personnel, business leaders and professionals across sectors.

She further argued that millions of Muslim families have experienced social and economic mobility, moving into higher education, professional careers and entrepreneurship.

In her response, Malik said Indian Muslims enjoy constitutional protections and minority rights, including the ability to run educational institutions and preserve their cultural and religious identity. She maintained that these realities directly contradict claims of systematic persecution.

Credibility of IAMC

Critics also questioned Omar’s association with IAMC, a US-based lobbying group that has often faced allegations from its opponents of promoting a one-sided narrative about India.

Omar’s detractors argue that her remarks fit into a broader pattern of criticism she has repeatedly directed at India and the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

What is eighth stage of genocide?

The “eighth stage of genocide” reference comes from the “10 Stages of Genocide” framework developed by Genocide Watch founder Gregory Stanton. The eighth stage refers to persecution, including forced displacement, confiscation of property and segregation of targeted communities.

However, those challenging Omar’s comments argue that the conditions described under that framework do not reflect the lived experience of millions of Indian Muslims.