Muslim prayer room demolished after Hindutva protests in India
Prayer facility at Mumbai shopping mall removed following Hindu nationalist outrage over viral video showing two Muslim girls explaining its use
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Muslim prayer room at a shopping mall in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, has reportedly been demolished following protests by Hindu extremist groups, who demanded its removal after a video showing two young Muslim girls explaining the facility went viral on social media.
The controversy erupted at Inorbit Mall in Mumbai’s Malad neighborhood after a video featuring two girls wearing hijabs circulated online, showing a designated space where Muslim visitors could perform their daily prayers.
In the video, the girls encouraged fellow Muslims not to miss their prayers while visiting the mall and explained that the facility had separate sections for men and women, along with an area for performing ablutions, the ritual washing Muslims undertake before prayers.
The video triggered outrage among Hindu extremists, who objected to the presence of a dedicated Muslim prayer space inside a commercial establishment.
On October 30, Sakal Hindu Samaj, a Hindu nationalist organization, shared the video on social media platform X and questioned why Muslims were being provided a prayer facility inside a shopping mall visited by people of different religions.
“Is Mumbai on the path to becoming Pakistan? This is a matter of serious concern for every Mumbaikar!” the organization wrote.
The group also questioned whether Hindus would be permitted to perform religious rituals inside the mall and demanded the removal of the Muslim prayer facility.
Following the online campaign, Hindu extremists staged a protest against the prayer room.
On Oct. 31, Sakal Hindu Samaj shared another video claiming that the facility had been demolished.
The footage appeared to show the prayer room before and after its removal, with broken tiles and dismantled sections visible in the later images.
However, the mall management has not publicly clarified the circumstances surrounding the reported demolition or whether the facility was removed in response to pressure from Hindutva groups.
The incident also triggered a wave of anti-Muslim rhetoric on social media, with Hindu nationalist accounts portraying the provision of a prayer room as an attempt to expand Islamic influence in public spaces.
Some commentators described the facility as evidence that Mumbai was becoming a Muslim-dominated enclave, echoing the anti-Muslim rhetoric frequently deployed by Hindutva organizations.
The controversy highlights growing tensions surrounding Muslim religious practices in India, where Hindu nationalist groups have repeatedly opposed Islamic prayers in public and commercial spaces.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
