US rights group condemns wave of mosque demolitions in India
Justice For All says destruction of three mosques within days reflects growing pressure on Muslim places of worship under Hindu nationalist rule
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A United States-based human rights organization has expressed alarm over the demolition of three mosques in India within a matter of days, arguing that the incidents reflect a broader pattern of discrimination against the country’s Muslim minority.
Justice For All, a U.S.-based advocacy group that campaigns for human rights and religious freedom, said authorities demolished the three mosques over a five-day period, including two in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and one in the western state of Rajasthan.
The organization’s statement comes after the demolition of Masjid Mustafa Qadri in Sambhal, the Shaheed Azgaib Mosque in Varanasi and Jaipur’s Noorani Mosque. The demolitions have drawn criticism from Muslim groups and rights advocates, who accuse authorities of selectively targeting Islamic religious sites while applying different standards to structures associated with the Hindu majority.
Justice For All said the Shaheed Azgaib Mosque in Varanasi had existed for roughly two centuries and had functioned without complaints regarding alleged encroachment. The group argued that numerous Hindu temples built on public land, roads and other government property across India have not faced similar action, raising concerns about unequal enforcement.
The demolitions come amid growing debate over the status of Muslim religious sites in India, where several historic mosques have become the focus of legal and political disputes promoted by Hindu extremist groups.
Observers say such campaigns have intensified under governments led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs both Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Rights organizations and opposition figures have repeatedly accused Hindu supremacists of using allegations of illegal construction, encroachment or historical claims to challenge the existence of mosques and other Muslim institutions.
In its statement, Justice For All argued that the recent mosque demolitions cannot be viewed in isolation but should be understood within a wider climate of anti-Muslim rhetoric, hate speech and increasing pressure on religious minorities.
The organization’s Save India From Fascism campaign said recent developments reflect what it described as a decline in religious tolerance and warned that Muslims and Christians are facing growing insecurity despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
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
