Demolition of mosques in India reflect state’s systematic campaign to erase Muslim presence

ISLAMABAD, Dec 21 (APP):The demolition of mosques in India under the state’s administrative supervision reflect a systematic campaign to erase Muslim presence from public life and assert Hindu majoritarian dominance.

On January 4, 2025, the Uttar Pradesh government forcibly demolished a mosque and madrassa in Hajipur village, Sambhal district, sending shockwaves through the local Muslim community.

The Residents reported fear, anger, and a profound sense of insecurity as their religious spaces, which had been in use for decades, were destroyed under the guise of clearing government land.

The authorities’ claims ring hollow, especially as mosque representatives insist the land was legally allotted for religious and educational purposes. Adding insult to injury, a fine of INR 78.8 lakh was imposed on the mosque management committee, intensifying the community’s suffering.

Local clerics highlighted the discriminatory nature of these operations, pointing out that Hindu temples and other structures on disputed land remain untouched.

This is not an isolated incident; over the past 14 months, more than a dozen Islamic sites in Sambhal district have been demolished or damaged. In a further display of insensitivity, on December 20, 2025, authorities destroyed over two dozen shops and homes near a graveyard adjacent to the historic Shahi Jama Masjid.

These actions underscore the state-backed targeting of minorities and the deepening climate of fear imposed on India’s Muslim population.