By 
09-01-2026 | Dominik Miklósi | Asia Researcher, Global Human Rights Defence.
Under curfew, armed soldiers and police officers locked down Birgunj, a city in Nepal. The issued measure stems from religiously fuelled protests between Hindu and Muslim groups following the vandalism of a mosque. Currently, any forms of assembly, including demonstrations, are strictly prohibited in the city for an uncertain amount of time.
Armed security forces flooded the Nepalese city of Birgunj, which is located 130 kilometres from the capital, Kathmandu. The curfew was ordered by the authorities of the Parsa District Administration as a result of Hindu and Muslim groups clashing during several protests recently. The protests are the consequence of the vandalisation of a mosque that took place during the weekend of January 3rd and 4th, 2026. Currently, no one is permitted to step onto the streets of Birgunj, and those who breach the curfew obligations risk being shot by the security forces. Additionally, any form of assembly and protestation is specifically prohibited.
Birgunj serves as a focal point considering the economy of the Himalayan country. It lies on the southern border of Nepal, where a substantial portion of oil, goods, and supplies flows through from India. However, the city is now paralysed due to the curfew. Muslim protests broke out on January 4th, 2026, after their religious site, which is situated in the vicinity of the city, fell victim to vandalism. As a response to the demonstrations, Hindus started to hold counter-protests on the same day. Fortunately, no serious clashes or grave injuries have been reported in relation to the situation, only brief confrontations with police officers.
Violence fuelled by religious persecution, such as the vandalism and desecration of a mosque, is uncommon in Nepal. It raises human rights concerns in the context of religious freedoms. For the most part, the nation’s population comprises Hindus. Meanwhile, the Muslim community is a minority mainly located in the southern regions of the country, close to the Indian border. The situation at hand is something that the citizens of Nepal have not experienced in a while. According to local authorities, the curfew will continue until tensions de-escalate between the two groups. For the time being, the situation remains under the security forces’ supervision.
