On the 31st anniversary of the Babri mosque demolition, Pakistan has called upon the international community to address the rising wave of Islamophobia, hate speech, and hate crimes against Muslims in India.
The Foreign Office issued a statement expressing deep concern over the historical Babri mosque incident, where a Hindu mob demolished the centuries-old mosque in Ayodhya.
The Babri mosque, constructed in 1528 during the reign of India’s first Mughal ruler, Babur, has been a contentious site, believed by many Hindus to be the birthplace of Lord Ram according to the Hindu scripture Ramayana.
The dispute between Hindu and Muslim groups over the site led to the Allahabad High Court ordering the maintenance of the status quo in 1989.
In 1992, during the rise of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a mob climbed the mosque during a rally and demolished it, leading to widespread unrest. The Indian Supreme Court’s 2019 decision allocated the disputed land to Hindus, paving the way for the construction of the Ram Temple, scheduled to open in January 2024.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office expressed disappointment at India’s judiciary acquitting those responsible for the mosque’s destruction and allowing the construction of the temple at the site.
The statement highlighted the ongoing anti-Muslim sentiments, with recent comments by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh citing the Babri Mosque’s demolition as a template for reclaiming parts of Pakistan.
The Foreign Office drew attention to Hindu extremist groups demanding the conversion of other mosques into temples, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and Shahi Eidgah Mosque in Mathura. The alarming trend of demolishing mosques and shrines under administrative measures or judicial processes was also lamented.
Pakistan called on India to ensure the safety, security, and protection of minorities, particularly Muslims and their places of worship. As international concerns mount, the spotlight remains on the need for constructive dialogue and efforts to address the escalating issue of Islamophobia in the region.
