Saharanpur mosque demolition draws condemnation from religious groups and Pakistan

A pre-independence era mosque located on the Saharanpur Collectorate premises in Uttar Pradesh, India, was demolished on September 5 following a district court order. While the court had upheld an eviction order regarding the land, mosque caretakers and religious organizations have criticized the speed of the demolition.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Mahmood Madani questioned why the administration proceeded with the demolition within hours of the court order, noting that the order did not explicitly direct immediate destruction. He argued that the mosque committee was not given sufficient time to seek legal recourse through a higher court. Similarly, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind described the act as a “blot on democracy” and a “brazen and unforgivable act of sycophancy.”

On an international level, Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the demolition, characterizing it as part of a campaign to erase Islamic heritage in India. The Pakistani government called on the international community to recognize what it described as the systematic persecution of Muslims. Indian lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi also questioned the incident, raising concerns regarding constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.