Assam Muslim Groups Seek Recall of Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Muhammad Yunus

Several Muslim organisations in Assam have demanded the recall of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus, citing concerns over the safety of religious minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh and alleging a failure of moral leadership.
Leaders of the organisations said the demand follows recent incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, including the killing of a Hindu man, which has triggered protests and widespread outrage in parts of Assam. They argued that such incidents undermine the values of peace, justice and human rights for which Yunus was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2006.
Members of the Assam State Jamiat Ulema and other minority bodies submitted a memorandum addressed to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee through diplomatic channels, urging it to reconsider the honour conferred on Yunus. They alleged that under the current political climate in Bangladesh, extremist elements have gained ground, leading to repeated attacks on minority communities.
Maulana Fazlul Karim Qasimi, a senior leader of the Jamiat, said violence against minorities was unacceptable and contradicted the principles associated with the Nobel Peace Prize. “Silence or inaction in the face of injustice erodes the credibility of global honours meant to promote peace,” he said.
Student organisations such as the All Bodoland Minority Students’ Union (ABMSU) also staged demonstrations in parts of Assam, demanding stronger international pressure on Bangladesh to ensure the protection of Hindus and other minorities. Protesters reportedly burned effigies and raised slogans condemning communal violence across the border.
The protests were accompanied by appeals for maintaining communal harmony within Assam, with religious leaders urging people not to allow developments in Bangladesh to disturb peace in the state.
Muhammad Yunus, who gained international recognition for pioneering microfinance and poverty alleviation through the Grameen Bank, has not responded to the demand so far. Bangladeshi authorities and the Nobel Committee have also not issued any official statement on the matter.
The development comes amid heightened regional sensitivity over minority rights in Bangladesh and has added a new dimension to public discourse in Assam on cross-border communal issues and human rights.