New Zealand’s Immigration and Protection Tribunal has rejected an Indian Muslim man’s refugee appeal, finding that while there is evidence of increasing hostility towards Muslims in India, most members of the community are able to live without significant harm or discrimination.

As per Awaaz, the tribunal acknowledged country information showing an “increasing level of hostility towards Muslims” in India. However, it found that the evidence did not demonstrate that all Muslims faced a real risk of persecution or serious harm.

“In fact, the country information indicated that most Muslims are able to live their lives free from harm or significant discrimination,” the tribunal said.

The 35-year-old Indian citizen arrived in New Zealand on a visitor visa in April 2023 and applied for refugee and protected-person status three months later. His application was rejected by the Refugee Status Unit in April 2025 before he appealed the decision.

The tribunal dismissed his appeal on 1 May 2026, finding that his claim met the high threshold of being “manifestly unfounded”.

The man told the tribunal that he feared returning to India because of his previous involvement in social work for an Islamist political party that was later banned by the Indian government.

He claimed he had been targeted by members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging that supporters of the organisation attacked his brother at the family home in October 2025 and later threatened his family.

The tribunal accepted that local RSS members could pose a threat to him if he returned to his former area of residence. However, it found that the risk was “highly localised” and that he could safely relocate to other parts of India.

The tribunal identified major cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai as places where the man could live safely, noting their large Muslim populations and access to wider community networks.

Because the tribunal found he had the option of relocating internally within India, it concluded that New Zealand’s refugee-protection obligations were not engaged.

The man also lodged a humanitarian appeal against his deportation, arguing that he had established strong connections in New Zealand, was a valued employee and could continue contributing to the country.

His employer described his specialist production role as “operationally critical” and warned that his departure could disrupt business operations. Immigration records showed he earned more than $60,000 and paid more than $12,000 in tax in the year to May 2026.

However, the tribunal found that his employment, friendships and community ties did not amount to exceptional humanitarian circumstances warranting permission to remain.

The deportation appeal was also declined, but the tribunal granted him a seven-month work visa to allow time for an orderly departure, including arranging accommodation and employment options in India and giving his employer time to adjust.

The ruling comes amid broader international discussions around religious freedom, minority rights and migration pathways, with refugee decisions continuing to assess individual circumstances rather than broader country-level concerns alone.

Support our Journalism

No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.