Pakistan condemns demolition of mosque in India’s Saharanpur
Pakistan condemned the demolition of a mosque in the city of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in northern India. Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan called it an unacceptable action against a historic Islamic place of worship. The Pakistani side also described the demolition as part of an “Islamophobic and Hindu nationalist-driven campaign” to erase India’s Islamic heritage.
As Dawn reports, Pakistan called on the international community to pay attention to what it described as the systematic persecution of Muslims by Indian authorities. Khan also called for Indian authorities to be held accountable for actions against the religious freedom and cultural heritage of minorities, particularly Muslims.
Court ruling
According to The Indian Express, the mosque was located on the premises of the collectorate in Saharanpur and was demolished on September 5. This happened three days after a district court dismissed an appeal against a ruling that found the structure to be located on government land and unauthorized.
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At the same time, the court’s September 2 ruling contained no direct instruction to demolish it. Mosque worker Tanvir Ahmed told The Indian Express that it provided for eviction rather than demolition. According to him, the mosque was about 150 years old, and the plot of land was registered in their name.
Politician’s reaction
Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party and a member of parliament from Hyderabad, also condemned the demolition. According to NDTV, he questioned whether the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion applies to Muslims. Owaisi said that the mosque dated back to 1911, while the collectorate building was constructed later.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry statement mentioned the destruction of the Babri Mosque by a Hindu mob in 1992. About 2,000 people, most of them Muslims, were killed in riots across India afterward. In 2024, the more than 600-year-old Akhonji Mosque was demolished without prior notice in Delhi’s Mehrauli area.
