Justice For All Alarmed at Mosque Demolitions in India, Calls on Indian Intelligentsia to Reject Hate Politics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington DC, (June 17, 2026)

Justice For All is alarmed at the acceleration of mosque demolitions in India. Over a 5 day period, three mosques have been demolished under various pretenses. These demolitions include two mosques in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, viz. Masjid Mustafa Qadri in Sambhal and the Shaheed Azgaib Mosque in Varanasi, and the Noorani Mosque in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

In the case of the Shaheed Azgaib mosque in Varanasi, it had been operating for the last 200 years without any complaints of alleged encroachments on other properties. The authorities do not apply the same standards in dealing with mosques and temples: many Hindu temples have been built on roads, sidewalks, public parks and are later developed into larger structures. They are not demolished.

Both of these states, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the party of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. In a predictable pattern, as the BJP comes to power in different states, the rhetoric of hate against Muslims and Christians takes significant hold in polarizing the majority Hindu population against other religious communities. As the hate-speech and impunity for crimes against Muslims and Christians is expanded, so is demolition of their properties, especially places of worship, i.e. mosques and churches. Muslims bear the brunt of these attacks as well as demolitions.

Zahir Adil, lead of the Save India From Fascism campaign at Justice For All said, “India is regressing at an alarming pace with regard to religious tolerance. While the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party uses violence, hate rhetoric, forced Hinduization, and impunity for perpetrators of attacks to make it increasingly difficult for Muslims and Christians to feel safe and part of the Indian fabric. The message is clear, Hinduize yourself, or face the wrath of the majority.”

Indian society must confront this majoritarianism very strongly. India’s intelligentsia must come and stand collectively against the majoritarian trend of the BJP and the hate politics it normalizes.

Contact: Zahir Adil, Justice For All, Save India From Fascism campaign

Email: zahir@justiceforall.org  Phone: 202-908-JUST

Website: https://www.justiceforall.org/saveindia/