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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed deep concern over the demolitions and threats to historic Muslim religious sites in India, including the 1,000-year-old Masjid Ganj Shaheeda in Varanasi. He called on India to immediately stop <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-presidents-calls-for-collective-action-against-hate-speech" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">such actions</a>, warning that they risk leading to the disintegration and perennial chaos of India, according to a post shared on President of Pakistan&rsquo;s X account on Saturday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-6" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-6&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2068242820906017104&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d6c6917c3ab2aa32ea524d0a7a20f556dd76cf50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2068242820906017104">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Zardari also urged an immediate halt to these measures and stressed the need to protect minority rights and shared <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-probes-embezzlement-allegations-at-temple-built-on-babri-mosque" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">cultural heritage</a>.&nbsp;Notice for removal of mosque&nbsp;India&rsquo;s Northern Railways&rsquo; Varanasi division has issued a notice directing the removal of Masjid Ganj Shaheeda near Kashi railway station by June 20, according to Indian media.&nbsp;The Anjuman Intizamia Masajid Varanasi, the committee managing the mosque, has called the move &ldquo;illegal&rdquo;. On Thursday, office-bearers of the Anjuman Intizamia met the Varanasi District Magistrate (DM) and submitted a memorandum requesting an inquiry into the documents and details cited by the railways.&nbsp; The committee also urged the administration to issue directions preventing the Railways from carrying out the demolition.&nbsp;No connection with railways land&nbsp;According to Indian media, Joint Secretary of Anjuman Intizamia, SM Yaseen, said: &ldquo;The notice pasted outside the mosque on June 13 by railways administration is illegal since it does not have any date, signature and the stamp. We dismiss the claims by the railways in its notice in the memorandum handed over to the DM today.&rdquo; According to the memorandum submitted to the district magistrate, the committee stated: The mosque &ldquo;Ganj Shaheedan&rdquo; is registered in the Varanasi Municipal Corporation as A 36/4 building.&nbsp; The mosque has no connection with railway land, as mentioned in the counter affidavit in a court case, the memorandum said, according to Indian media.&nbsp;The existence of the mosque is reflected in the map, and the Kashi Railway Station did not exist at that time, it added.

Foreign Affairs

India’s Northern Railways’ Varanasi division has issued a notice directing the removal of Masjid Ganj Shaheeda near Kashi railway station by June 20, according to Indian media.

Pakistan president raises concern over Muslim religious site demolitions in India

NEW DELHI:&nbsp;India&#39;s ruling Hindu-nationalist party has ordered detention centers for undocumented Bangladeshis and Rohingyas in West Bengal state, sparking fear among minorities that it could lead to arbitrary expulsions. The directive comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party won power in the eastern state for the first time since the country&#39;s independence in 1947. The order calls on local authorities to set up &quot;holding centers&quot; for &quot;apprehended foreigners&quot; awaiting deportation, as part of a broader crackdown on illegal migration.&nbsp;Anxiety among Muslims&nbsp;The government has defended its &quot;detect, delete, deport&quot; principle, saying those targeted are migrants staying illegally in the country. &quot;Illegal migration has security and socio-economic ramifications which are often well beyond law enforcement&quot; read the order, issued last week. The decision has fueled anxiety among West Bengal&#39;s roughly 35 million Muslims, many of whom share linguistic and cultural ties with neighboring Bangladesh.&nbsp;&lsquo;Termites&rsquo; and &lsquo;infiltrators&rsquo;Critics say the measure reflects the government&#39;s long-standing hardline stance on immigration, with top BJP members referring to Bangladeshi migrants as &ldquo;termites&rdquo; and &ldquo;infiltrators&rdquo; in the past. The party has pursued similar policies in the neighboring state of Assam, where it has overseen sweeping identification drives and large-scale detentions.&nbsp;Ethnic profiling&nbsp;Rights activists say hundreds have been deported to Bangladesh from Assam without due legal process, often based on ethnic profiling. Many of them have been allegedly pushed across the border at gunpoint, according to activists and lawyers who have challenged the measures in court.&nbsp;Impact on Muslims&nbsp;They argue the policies disproportionately impact the Muslim population by conflating religious identity with illegal migration. The planned centers in West Bengal have drawn particular concern because of the state&#39;s porous border with Bangladesh and its long history of migration. The inclusion of Rohingya refugees in the order has also drawn criticism. India has previously been accused by humanitarian groups of forcibly returning Rohingya to Myanmar, despite ongoing conflict there, in potential violation of international norms on refugee protection. Adding to the unease of the Muslims, the BJP-led government in Assam on Monday introduced legislation to amend personal religious laws, which critics say could further marginalize minorities.

India

The decision has fueled anxiety among West Bengal's roughly 35 million Muslims, many of whom share linguistic and cultural ties with neighboring Bangladesh.

India orders migrant detention centers in West Bengal, sparking expulsion fears

ISLAMABAD: The Chairperson of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Vicky Hartzler, said in a post on X on Saturday that the Indian government &ldquo;continues to implement and enforce discriminatory legislation, including harsh anti-conversion laws&rdquo; used to target and harass religious minorities, as the commission renewed concern over freedom of religion conditions in the country.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2032109645666410862&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=7d0fa49dd67c9941107d432a928e8889b5009988&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The remarks accompanied the release of the commission&rsquo;s 2026 annual report, which again recommended that India be designated a &ldquo;country of particular concern&rdquo; for what it described as particularly severe violations of religious freedom.&nbsp; The report, released in March 2026, said conditions in India &ldquo;continued to deteriorate&rdquo; in 2025 as the government introduced and enforced legislation targeting minority communities and their places of worship. According to the report, several Indian states moved to introduce or strengthen anti-conversion laws, including tougher prison terms.&nbsp; It said Uttarakhand increased jail terms for what it called illegal conversions, Rajasthan adopted legislation allowing life imprisonment in some cases, and other states announced plans for stricter measures.&nbsp; The report also noted that India&rsquo;s Supreme Court sought responses from nine states facing legal challenges over such laws. The commission further said Indian authorities facilitated the detention and expulsion of citizens and religious refugees and tolerated vigilante attacks against minorities.&nbsp; It cited communal violence in Maharashtra, attacks on Christian families in Odisha, and heightened anti-Muslim sentiment after the April 2025 Kashmir incident.&nbsp; In its broader overview, the report also referred to India&rsquo;s expulsion of hundreds of Muslim citizens and dozens of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh. The commission&rsquo;s India chapter appears in its 2026 annual report among the countries it recommends for designation as countries of particular concern.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom says India’s religious freedom conditions worsened in 2025, citing anti-conversion laws, attacks on minorities; recommends designation as a country of concern.

US watchdog criticizes India over minority rights

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s Union Home Ministry (Federal Ministry of Interior) issued a directive on Thursday, Feb. 12, that the national song &lsquo;Vande Mataram&rsquo; must be sung, in its entirety of six stanzas, at all official and cultural events. The directive further stated that, &ldquo;The national song should be sung first and the audience must stand up whenever it is played.&rdquo; Moreover, it must be sung before and after the arrival of the President, at all flag hoisting ceremonies and even at all everyday assemblies in schools, in its entirety. In 1937, it was observed by the Congress-led government that since stanzas 4 to 6 identify India with Hindu goddesses, Durga and Lakshmi, it is against the fundamental principle of Islamic faith of Tawhid. Therefore, it was decided then, that only the first two stanzas will be adopted as the national song, as they only focus on the beauty of nature.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022008768817770980&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=496ea50cd0bfdbaa6aeafe748fceeb7c91012e8e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 641px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The origins of the song are also anti-Muslim as it originally appeared in Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay&rsquo;s 1882 novel, &quot;Anandamath&quot;, which historians describe as having strong anti-Muslim and xenophobic rhetoric. It depicts Muslims as &quot;aliens and oppressors&quot; who must be driven out by a movement led by Hindu monks. Compelling Muslims to sing a song that violates their religious tenets is seen by many as a &quot;violation of religious freedom&quot; under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution. This is the latest in a series of anti-Muslim and anti-minority steps taken by India&#39;s &quot;Hindutva&quot; ideology-led BJP government. Indian media has reported that the move has already widened fault lines inside the country, with Muslim organizations and opposition parties publicly objecting that mandating the full six-stanza rendition risks turning a patriotic symbol into a test of conformity for minorities. The episode underscores how India&rsquo;s majoritarian politics is increasingly reshaping state practice and shrinking space for pluralism in the country.

India’s Union Home Ministry has directed that all six stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ be sung at official, cultural, and school events, drawing objections from Muslim groups and opposition parties; critics say the mandate risks violating religious freedom and deepening majoritarian politics.

India orders full ‘Vande Mataram’ recital at all events, sparks minority backlash

ISLAMABAD: A Muslim passenger was allegedly assaulted by a group of individuals over his religious identity while travelling on an express train in India, in an incident that has renewed attention on attacks against Muslims in public places. According to the Kashmir Media Service and Indian media reports, the incident occurred on the Manmad-Kakinada-Shirdi Express, an intercity passenger train, when it stopped at Hafeezpet railway station in Hyderabad, India&#39;s southern city. The victim, identified as Hafiz Mohammad Imran, was travelling to Maharashtra when the alleged attack took place. Imran told the police that an argument was already underway inside the coach between some passengers. He said he approached the group to ask why another passenger was being beaten, after which the situation escalated. In a video statement that surfaced on social media on Feb. 11, Imran is seen recounting the incident to police officials. He alleged that he was forcibly pulled aside and assaulted by around 20 people. He further claimed that he was targeted after the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-witnessed-over-1300-events-of-hate-speech-in-2025-report" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">group noticed his beard and skull cap</a>.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2021452549564531102&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4112%2F&sessionId=104c2291b13e4348fbebf2b97f4ec9a34de60210&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Imran also stated that a friend who attempted to intervene and protect him was pushed and assaulted during the altercation. He maintained that he can identify the alleged attackers and has offered to assist the police in the investigation. Police confirmed that the matter is under investigation and said that statements from passengers present on the coach are being recorded. Authorities said appropriate legal action will be taken if the allegations are substantiated. Following the incident, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen raised concerns over the alleged assault and called for strict action against those responsible. The incident has drawn attention to safety concerns on public transport, particularly incidents involving allegations of identity-based violence.

Screengrab shows a Muslim passenger who was allegedly beaten by a group of around 20 men on a passenger train in India because of his religious identity. (Photo: X/TheMuslim)

He alleges that he was forcibly pulled aside and assaulted by around 20 people; claims that he was targeted after the group noticed his beard and skull cap.

Muslim passenger assaulted on train over religious identity in India

ISLAMABAD: Srinagar&rsquo;s historic Jama Masjid in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) was closed on Tuesday evening, preventing congregational prayers on Shab‑e‑Barat, a night of deep spiritual significance for Muslims, according to Indian media.&nbsp;The decision by Indian&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/closure-of-medical-college-has-affected-students-future-iiojk-cm" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">authorities</a>&nbsp;left worshippers dismayed and the mosque&rsquo;s custodians frustrated, as the Night of Forgiveness marks the 15th night of Sha&rsquo;ban and is traditionally observed with night‑long prayers. According to the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, officials accompanied by police arrived earlier in the day to announce that congregational Isha prayers and the special night vigil would not be permitted.&nbsp; The managing body was instructed to lock the mosque&rsquo;s gates immediately, and armed police were deployed around the mosque to prevent people from gathering.&nbsp;Interference in religious rights&nbsp;The Auqaf said the directive came shortly after Asr prayers, with police insisting the mosque remain closed throughout the night despite preparations for the observance.&nbsp; The organization expressed regret over the disruption of another major religious occasion and noted that its head, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq, was under house arrest.&nbsp; The statement said repeated restrictions since 2019 amount to interference in the community&rsquo;s religious rights. Mirwaiz Farooq,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/the-indian-peace-bond-gag-order-how-kashmiri-reporters-are-being-silenced-without-an-fir" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kashmir&rsquo;s</a>&nbsp;chief Muslim cleric, posted on social media that while mosques across Kashmir were illuminated for Shab‑e‑Barat, Jama Masjid remained closed under surveillance.&nbsp;Preventing peaceful religious assemblies&nbsp;He described the closure as part of a long pattern of curbs on religious gatherings and questioned the official narrative of &ldquo;normalcy.&rdquo; The Anjuman Auqaf condemned the authorities&rsquo; approach and urged reconsideration of policies that prevent peaceful religious assemblies.&nbsp; Officials provided no specific explanation for the closure, describing it only as a &ldquo;preventive&rdquo; or &ldquo;precautionary&rdquo; measure.&nbsp; An anonymous police officer said it was intended to avert potential law‑and‑order issues, but did not clarify how prayers inside the mosque could pose a risk, Indian media reported.

The managing body was instructed to lock the mosque’s gates, and armed police were deployed around the mosque to prevent people from gathering.

Closure of Srinagar’s Jama Masjid on Shab‑e‑Barat draws criticism

ISLAMABAD: Anti-Christian hate speech in India intensified sharply in 2025, according to data compiled by India Hate Lab, reflecting a broader escalation in religious polarization linked to Hindu nationalist mobilization. The organization documented more than 162 distinct incidents targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/replace-nursery-rhymes-with-firearms-training-hindu-nationalist-tells-indian-parents" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christians</a> during the year, a 41% increase from the 115 incidents recorded in 2024. The report notes a growing normalization of explicit threats, calls for organized action, and vigilante rhetoric. A widening range of actors, including religious preachers, far-right organizations, and elected officials, contributed to an increasingly militant anti-Christian narrative. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad-Bajrang Dal organized 50 events featuring <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/opposition-slams-indias-ruling-bjp-after-attack-on-christian-pastor" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">anti-Christian</a> speeches, while the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad&ndash;Rashtriya Bajrang Dal organized 16. States governed by the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-antiminority-speeches-at-rss-centenary-convention" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bharatiya Janata Party</a>, either directly or through coalitions, accounted for 134 of the recorded incidents. Speeches frequently framed Christians alongside Muslims as part of a &ldquo;dual threat,&rdquo; often labeled &ldquo;vidharmis,&rdquo; a pejorative term used to describe followers of religions portrayed as foreign or hostile to Hindu society. Across multiple events, speakers called for economic boycotts, destruction of churches, and physical violence. &lsquo;Forced conversion&rsquo;&nbsp;Central to this rhetoric was the &ldquo;forced conversion&rdquo; narrative, which alleged that Christian charity, education, and healthcare services were deceptive tools to induce religious conversion, particularly among poor and Adivasi communities. Several incidents illustrated this trend. In January, at events in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, Bajrang Dal leader Azad Prem Singh openly called for the demolition of churches and invoked the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition as a precedent. Similar rhetoric was reported across states, including Punjab, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, with some speakers urging followers to arm themselves or take oaths to use weapons to defend Hinduism. Xenophobic narrativesThe report also highlights increasing attacks on Christian institutions, particularly missionary schools, which were labeled as harmful or subversive. A parallel rise in xenophobic narratives framed Christians as foreign loyalists tied to colonial powers or the Vatican. Civil society data underscores the impact of this rhetoric. Christian organizations reported hundreds of violent incidents annually, with significant increases over the past decade. India Hate Lab concluded that anti-Christian hate speech in 2025 has become structurally embedded within the same ecosystem that targets Muslims, contributing to sustained risks of violence, exclusion, and legal persecution for Christian communities.

Speeches frequently framed Christians alongside Muslims as part of a 'dual threat,' often labeled 'vidharmis,' a pejorative term used to describe followers of religions portrayed as foreign or hostile to Hindu society.

Anti-Christian hate speech in India surges 41% in 2025: Report 

ISLAMABAD: Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen has raised serious concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, calling the exercise hurried, unjust to voters, and potentially damaging to democratic participation as the state heads toward assembly elections in the coming months. Sen said that while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-opposition-criticizes-ruling-bjp-of-voter-purge-driving-bihar-election-victory" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">revising electoral rolls</a>&nbsp;can strengthen democracy if conducted carefully, the current process in West Bengal lacks sufficient time and fairness, the Indian media reported on Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&lsquo;Unfair to democracy&rsquo;&nbsp;He argued that voters are not being given adequate opportunity to submit documents to establish their eligibility, making the exercise both unjust to the electorate and unfair to Indian democracy.&nbsp;Sen said the time pressure was visible even among Election Commission (EC) officials.&nbsp;&nbsp;Recalling his own experience, he said he was questioned about his right to vote from Santiniketan, his home constituency, despite having voted there earlier and having his details already recorded in official records.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said officials questioned him about his deceased mother&rsquo;s age at the time of his birth, even though both their details were already available in EC records.&nbsp;&lsquo;Rigid gates&rsquo; of EC&nbsp;Highlighting broader documentation challenges, Sen noted that, like many Indians born in rural areas, he does not have a birth certificate, which required him to submit additional paperwork to establish his eligibility.&nbsp; While his case was eventually resolved with the help of friends, he expressed concern for voters who lack similar support networks.&nbsp; He said he worried about those who may not be able to navigate what he described as the &ldquo;rigid gates&rdquo; of the Election Commission.&nbsp;BJP might benefitSen was summoned for a hearing after a &ldquo;logical discrepancy&rdquo; was flagged regarding the age difference between him and his mother.&nbsp; Asked whether the SIR could benefit any political party, he said he was not an election expert and could not answer with certainty, though he had been told by others that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/election-commission-of-india-asked-to-clarify-alleged-multistate-voting-in-bihar-elections" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bhartiya Janata Party</a>&nbsp;(BJP) might benefit from under-accounting.&nbsp; He stressed, however, that no party&rsquo;s potential gain should justify a faulty process.&nbsp;Underprivileged at risk of exclusion&nbsp;He warned that the poor and underprivileged were most at risk of exclusion, as required documents are often difficult for them to obtain, and said such requirements could introduce class bias.&nbsp; He also flagged concerns about minority communities, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/probe-ordered-in-indian-city-after-hindu-voters-added-to-muslim-households" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Muslims</a> and some Hindu groups, facing possible discrimination. He said, &ldquo;Indian Muslims are sometimes relegated to disadvantaged positions through the activism of the recently bolstered Hindutva extremists. Some categories of Hindus also may face discrimination and targeting.&rdquo; Sen said the Election Commission and the Supreme Court must ensure that no adult Indian citizen faces difficulty in qualifying to vote.&nbsp;

Says, ‘Indian Muslims are sometimes relegated to disadvantaged positions through the activism of the recently bolstered Hindutva extremists. Some categories of Hindus also may face discrimination and targeting.’

Amartya Sen flags 'hurried' Bengal voter roll revision as 'unjust' to democracy

ISLAMABAD: A fresh Hindu-Muslim controversy has emerged in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh after Muslim residents in Dhar District alleged that Friday congregational prayers were effectively denied at the historic Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex, despite a Supreme Court order allowing <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-lawmaker-threatens-to-throw-pork-outside-mosques-in-kanpur" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">namaz </a>at the site.&nbsp;The dispute revolves around whether genuine Friday prayers were permitted or whether the district administration staged a symbolic and limited prayer to claim compliance with the court&rsquo;s directions, Indian media reported on Saturday.&nbsp;Allegations of denial and detentionResident Imran Khan said Muslims were prevented from entering the disputed complex despite prior assurances from authorities.&nbsp; In a video message, Khan claimed that he and others were taken under police escort on Thursday night and informed they would be allowed to offer <a href="http://pakistantv.com/article/indian-lawmaker-threatens-to-throw-pork-outside-mosques-in-kanpur" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Friday prayers</a> between 1pm and 3pm, the time window specified by the Supreme Court. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2014782688859979875&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=0e21ac2c8a86dfeac10cc212f28b5185305f1798&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &ldquo;We were kept under constant watch. When the prayer time was about to end, we were told to go back home. Later, the administration said namaz had taken place &mdash; but that was not us,&rdquo; he alleged.&nbsp;Residents further claimed that Deputy Collector Roshni Patidar and DSP Anand Tiwari detained several people at the Kamal Maula Mosque for nearly 16 hours, effectively preventing them from reaching the Bhojshala complex.&nbsp;&lsquo;Dummy namaz&rsquo; controversyTensions escalated after videos circulated on social media showing a small group of around 15 to 17 men offering prayers in a rear portion of the mosque complex.&nbsp; Local Muslims questioned the authenticity of the gathering, saying the individuals were not known worshippers and did not represent the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/muslim-man-beaten-stripped-and-paraded-in-india-case-registered" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">local community.</a> Another video showed people wearing yellow volunteer jackets entering the mosque premises, raising further questions about whether the administration arranged a symbolic prayer to demonstrate compliance with the Supreme Court order. Posting on X, Team Rising Falcon (@TheRFTeam) alleged that despite clear court directions, namaz was not allowed in practice and that a &ldquo;dummy prayer&rdquo; was conducted by unidentified individuals. Another account, @TheMuslim786, reported protests by Muslim women, who said Friday prayers were denied at the site.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 560px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 560px; height: 316px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2014969609821290799&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=0e21ac2c8a86dfeac10cc212f28b5185305f1798&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Residents also questioned how a Friday congregation, traditionally attended by large numbers, could be reduced to just 15-17 worshippers.&nbsp;Administration&rsquo;s responseAccording to an NDTV report, the district administration rejected the allegations. Dhar Collector Priyank Mishra said prayers were held with community consent and dismissed claims of wrongdoing.&nbsp;&ldquo;With the consent of the community, 15-17 Muslim men offered namaz at the designated location inside the complex between 1pm and 3pm, in line with the Supreme Court&rsquo;s order,&rdquo; Mishra said.&nbsp;A senior police officer, quoted by Indian media, also claimed that worshippers were escorted in a protected vehicle and allowed to pray without interruption.&nbsp;Claims of unequal implementationMuslim residents argue that while namaz was reduced to a symbolic act, Hindu rituals were allowed in full scale.&nbsp; They pointed out that Basant Panchami celebrations and Hindu rituals at the Bhojshala complex reportedly continued with hundreds of participants, raising concerns of selective implementation of the court&rsquo;s ruling.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 560px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 560px; height: 560px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2014757693307994591&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=0e21ac2c8a86dfeac10cc212f28b5185305f1798&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that both Hindu rituals and Muslim prayers could continue side by side at the site until a final decision is reached.&nbsp;Hindu group&rsquo;s stanceA right-wing Hindu group has defended the administration&rsquo;s actions.&nbsp; The Hindu Network Foundation (@hindufund_) said Basant Panchami puja and yajna were conducted under Supreme Court&#39;s directions.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2014947004284338252&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=0e21ac2c8a86dfeac10cc212f28b5185305f1798&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The group claimed that Bhojshala was originally built by Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty as a temple dedicated to Saraswati, a Hindu goddess, and was later converted into a mosque, arguing that its architectural features reflect Hindu origins.&nbsp;&ldquo;Why should a centuries-old mandir be reduced to permission-based worship?&rdquo; the group said, calling on Hindus to &ldquo;lawfully reclaim&rdquo; the site.

Bhojshala and Kamal Maula mosque site, Dhar Madhya Pradesh. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Locals say Muslims were prevented from entering the disputed complex despite prior assurances from the authorities.

Friday prayers denied at historic mosque in Indian state despite SC order

ISLAMABAD: A Muslim woman candidate in India&rsquo;s Rajasthan state was barred from appearing in a government recruitment examination after refusing to remove her hijab, according to local media.&nbsp;The incident occurred in Kota district on Sunday during the Level II Higher Primary School Teacher (Social Studies) examination conducted by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB). The candidate, Alisha, was denied entry to the examination center for wearing a hijab and was forced to return without taking the test.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to local authorities, examination guidelines prohibit candidates from covering their ears and face. Alisha said she was wearing a salwar suit with a hijab, and that her admit card photograph also shows her wearing a hijab. She said she was checked by a female police officer and security staff. No objectionable items were found in the investigation, but the center superintendent later refused her entry unless she removed the hijab, according to Zee News India. &ldquo;I have been preparing for this exam for more than a year and even took coaching,&rdquo; Alisha told local media. &ldquo;Despite explaining everything, I was not allowed to appear.&rdquo; She later left the center with her father, visibly distressed. The incident has sparked criticism on social media and among rights activists, who say such actions&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-chief-minister-faces-backlash-over-removing-muslim-womans-veil" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">disproportionately affect Muslim women</a>&nbsp;and undermine their access to education and employment.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2013103839000334833&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=9a5372b718d8ea01e0b07b2b0a24054f128782b2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 971px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2013103839000334833">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The Rajasthan administration has so far defended its decision, stating that the rules were applied uniformly. However, rights groups are calling for clearer, more inclusive guidelines to ensure that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-witnessed-over-1300-events-of-hate-speech-in-2025-report" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">religious identity</a>&nbsp;does not become a barrier to equal opportunity.

This screengrab from a social media video shows a Muslim student, Alisha, who was denied entry to an exam center in India’s Rajasthan state for wearing a hijab. (Photo: X/@TheMuslim)

The student says she was checked by a female police officer and security staff. No objectionable items were found in the investigation, but the center superintendent later refused her entry unless she removed the hijab.

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