The Narendra Modi government extended the ban on SIMI for another five years on Monday. Union Home Ministry confirmed the development on its official X account. The ‘Students Islamic Movement of India’ was declared unlawful under stringent UAPA. “The SIMI has been found involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony to threaten the sovereignty, security and integrity of Bharat,” the home ministry said in the statement.

The Centre had initially prohibited the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) on February 1, 2014. In 2019, the ban was extended for an additional five years. Established in 1977 in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh, the organisation claims to be dedicated to the goal of transforming India into an Islamic nation. SIMI was first declared an outlawed outfit in 2001 and has faced bans on multiple occasions.

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According to a notification issued by the Union Home Ministry, the SIMI has persisted in its subversive activities and is in the process of reorganizing its members who remain at large. The group is accused of destabilizing the secular fabric of the country by influencing people with communal discord, spreading anti-national sentiments, and promoting secessionism through support for militancy. The notification highlights that the SIMI is involved in activities that pose a threat to the integrity and security of the nation.