Growing mosque demolitions spark concern among rights activists in India
Demolitions part of a systematic anti-Muslim campaign: APCR
New Delhi:has voiced grave concern over the increasing demolition of mosques across India, calling for the protection of religious freedom, constitutional rights and accountability for officials involved in unlawful actions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, speakers at a press conference titled “Demolition of Mosques and Attack on Religious Freedom in India”, held at the Press Club of India in New Delhi, said a growing pattern of demolitions targeting Muslim places of worship is unfolding across the country.
The conference was attended by Senior Advocate and former Indian Minister Salman Khurshid, former MP Mohammad Adeeb, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind President Malik Mohtasim Khan, former Delhi Minorities Commission Chairman Zafrul Islam Khan, author and social activist Dr Syeda Hameed, human rights activist John Dayal, APCR National Secretary Nadeem Khan, Advocate Syed Sadat Ali and Advocate Riyasat Ali.
Addressing the gathering, Salman Khurshid described the issue as a long legal battle and urged affected communities to utilize all available legal avenues to seek justice.
Mohammad Adeeb called for the prosecution of police and administrative officials responsible for illegal demolitions and demanded that they be held personally and financially accountable for their actions.
Malik Mohtasim Khan expressed solidarity with the affected communities and emphasized collective resistance against injustice, while Zafrul Islam Khan urged people to pursue every available judicial remedy and document violations for the historical record.
Dr Syeda Hameed linked the current developments to a broader pattern of communal violence in India, recalling the demolition of the Babri Mosque and the 2002 Gujarat riots. She said the issue had become “a question of our existence”.
John Dayal said attacks on minority institutions were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern targeting religious minorities. He maintained that Muslims and Christians alike were facing increasing pressure under prevailing policies.
Nadeem Khan stated that at least 20 mosques had been targeted within 15 days in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. He termed the demolitions a systematic campaign aimed at intimidating and collectively punishing the Muslim community.
Advocate Syed Sadat Ali said nearly 300 mosques in Rajasthan’s Barmer district had received demolition notices, questioning why only Muslim religious structures were being singled out despite the presence of buildings belonging to other communities.
Advocate Riyasat Ali called for strict constitutional accountability, asserting that officials involved in unlawful demolitions should face legal action and be held personally responsible for violating citizens’ rights.
