Esports player asked to vacate flat for being Muslim, alleges discrimination
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An Indian esports player said that he and his teammates were asked to vacate a rented flat in Mumbai after their housing society objected to Muslim tenants, triggering widespread debate on housing discrimination.
Mohammed Owais Lakhani, a professional player of Battlegrounds Mobile India, said in a video that the society informed the flat owner that Muslims were not permitted on the premises. He added that all required documents had been submitted and that the tenants’ identities were known from the start.
Lakhani said the previous occupants of the flat were also Muslims and noted that the owner had already invested in infrastructure such as WiFi, making the situation more difficult.
The 26-year-old has earned over $57,000 in prize money from 30 tournaments and has represented India internationally. He has played for organisations including Team SouL, Fnatic, and Galaxy Racer, and currently competes under the Victores Sumus banner.
The incident has reignited concerns over housing discrimination against Muslims in major Indian cities. Studies, including one based on interviews across neighbourhoods in Mumbai and Delhi, have found that such discrimination is systemic rather than isolated.
Reports have documented cases where tenants are asked to vacate properties without notice based on religion. In Mumbai, some housing societies have been accused of informal practices restricting sales or rentals to certain communities, raising questions about compliance with legal provisions and constitutional guarantees of equality.
