Indian court orders demolition of mosque, penalizes imams
Local court ruling in Uttar Pradesh threatens mosque removal and massive fine for imams amid accusations of targeting Muslim sites
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A local revenue court in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state has ordered the demolition of a mosque, a shrine and several nearby homes in a village in Sambhal district while imposing a massive financial penalty on two Muslim clerics, a move residents say reflects a broader pattern of actions targeting Muslim religious sites in the state.
The ruling was issued by a revenue court headed by a local administrative magistrate known as a tehsildar, who handles land disputes and property records in rural areas.
According to the order, the mosque and surrounding structures in Saif Khan Sarai village, located in western Uttar Pradesh, were built illegally on land recorded in official documents as village community property.
The court directed authorities to remove the mosque, shrine and several houses if the decision is not challenged within 30 days, and imposed a fine of 69.5 million Indian rupees ($752,000) on two local imams, Aftab Hussain and Mehtab Hussain, who lead prayers at the mosque.
Officials claim the land, measuring roughly 0.134 hectares, is listed in government revenue records as community land reserved for plantation. Authorities claim it had previously been leased but was restored to village ownership in the 1970s.
Local revenue officer Dhirendra Kumar Singh said the court rejected claims that the land belonged to the Waqf Board, a statutory body that manages Muslim religious properties in India.
“According to revenue records, the land belongs to the village community and has been illegally occupied. Based on the available documents and evidence, the court ordered eviction,” Singh said.
The ruling has sparked anger among residents, many of whom say the mosque and shrine have served the local community for years.
Imam Aftab Hussain said the order and financial penalty came as a shock and warned that the fine would be impossible for ordinary villagers to pay.
“We have served this community for years, leading prayers and helping people. This fine is like a death sentence for poor people like us,” he said.
Residents said the mosque has long functioned as a central place of worship for Muslims in the village and that its demolition would severely disrupt religious life.
The case has also revived broader concerns about the treatment of Muslim religious sites in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, which is governed by Hindu nationalist monk-turned-politician Yogi Adityanath.
His administration has faced repeated allegations from rights advocates of targeting Muslim homes, businesses and religious structures through demolition drives and land disputes.
Local residents said structures belonging to other communities built on public land often remain untouched.
Sambhal district has witnessed several communal tensions in recent years, including disputes over historic religious sites and demolition actions against buildings linked to Muslim residents.
The dispute over the Saif Khan Sarai land began about six months ago after a local official filed a complaint under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, alleging encroachment on village land.
The imams and local residents have now approached the Allahabad High Court, seeking relief before any demolition action begins.
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