New Delhi, Nov 12 (NationPress) The Indian-American Muslim Council (IAMC), operating from the United States, is currently facing scrutiny for allegedly attempting to cast Indian Muslims in a negative light and manipulating media narratives regarding their dire conditions through questionable funding.

This scrutiny follows a formal complaint lodged by the Akhil Bhartiya Pasmanda Muslim Manch with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). In response, the NHRC has initiated an urgent investigation into these allegations and has requested an Action Taken Report (ATR) within a span of 10 days.

As one of the largest advocacy organizations in the U.S., the IAMC consistently highlights issues affecting the Muslim community in India. Recently, it voiced serious concerns regarding the Election Commission of India's voter verification initiative in Bihar, suggesting it could jeopardize the voting rights of countless individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities.

The complaint, submitted by Javed Malik, the national convenor of Akhil Bhartiya Pasmanda Muslim Manch, asserts that the IAMC, via its HRRF Journalism Grant 2025, promotes a skewed narrative portraying Indian Muslims as perpetually oppressed.

Malik contends that these foreign-funded grants, which lack FCRA registration or compliance disclosures, encourage journalists to concentrate solely on communal strife, misrepresenting the community and breaching Indian regulations.

He further alleged that such externally crafted narratives undermine the dignity and public perception of Indian Muslims, breed communal discord, and marginalize vulnerable groups within the community.

Highlighting a series of alleged violations by the U.S.-based organization, the Akhil Bhartiya Pasmanda Muslim Manch has called for a thorough investigation into potential FCRA infringements by the foreign organization, along with necessary measures to protect communal harmony.

The NHRC has swiftly responded to the complaint, issuing a notice to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for an immediate inquiry into the situation. An ATR has also been requested within 10 days.

Priyank Kanoongo, a member of the NHRC, commented on the alarming disclosures regarding the IAMC, emphasizing that the distorted narratives propagated by this American organization to disseminate misleading information about Indian Muslims is a serious issue that necessitates a prompt investigation.

He also referenced media coverage surrounding the Red Fort blast in Delhi, noting how it was initially described as a CNG cylinder explosion until investigative agencies clarified the terror aspect, leading to a shift in narrative.

“The pressing questions include whether there was a deliberate attempt to promote this narrative and if there was any foreign funding aimed at creating a false impression about these incidents. Is this part of a propaganda strategy supported by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), which has a history of funding specific media outlets to advance its agenda?” he questioned.