New Delhi – The Delhi Development Authority demolished an ancient mosque and an attached religious school, along with approximately 100 Muslim graves, including the “shrines of saints,” in the Mehrauli area of South Delhi before dawn last Tuesday.
The mosque’s Imam was surprised by the demolition order after the area was cordoned off, and the authorities confiscated the phones of those present in the mosque and its associated school, forcefully ejecting them from the area.
The authorities did not allow the Imam, school students, or teachers to take their belongings, including hundreds of copies of the Quran, religious books, money, and food, all of which were crushed by the machinery. The debris was then immediately removed to another location, and the area was leveled and filled with soil to give it a new appearance.
Despite a plea against the demolition submitted to the Delhi High Court, no notice or warning of the demolition was given to the mosque committee or the school.
The Delhi Waqf Board, which is also a government body, stated that the land, including the mosque, school, and graves, is all Waqf (endowment) land for Muslims, and it is not permissible for government administrations to assert control over it.
The mosque and school committee approached the Supreme Court the following day, aggrieved by the arbitrary action of the Delhi Development Authority. The court set February 12th as the date for hearing the case and issued an order to the Delhi Development Authority not to make any changes to the mosque, school, or gravesites.
The demolition extended to dozens of Muslim graves in the mosque courtyard (Al Jazeera)
Historic Mosques and Waqf Properties
The demolished mosque was named “Akhoon Jee Mosque” or the “Jinn Mosque,” which is said to date back to the era of the founder of the Delhi Sultanate, King Iltutmish, who ruled until 1236. The attached religious school is also of historical significance, and the graves, approximately 4 centuries old, contain the tombs of some saints. These landmarks are protected not only because they are Waqf properties but also because they are historical relics, and their demolition is not permitted under Indian law.
The demolition of the mosque and school coincided with the demolition of several other shrines across Delhi. Furthermore, on the same night, Hindus desecrated an Islamic cemetery in the Mohan Garden area of the city, causing damage to several graves.
Last month, the case of the “Sunehri Mosque” in Delhi, dating back to the Mughal period and preserved by the English when they built the new city of Delhi, known as “New Delhi,” came to light due to its historical significance. The English kept it intact because it was a “living mosque,” meaning it was in use and not abandoned.
The municipality alleged that the mosque obstructed traffic in the area and sought to demolish it under the guise of widening the street, despite a previous official committee ruling that the mosque did not pose a hindrance. However, the demolition order was halted after public outcry and intervention by the Supreme Court.
It is noteworthy that an ancient mosque called “Shahi Mosque” in the city of Allahabad (Prayagraj) was demolished on January 9, 2023, under the pretext of expanding the public road.
Repeated Incidents
The recent incident is not the first of its kind, as the demolition of mosques, shrines, graves, and Sufi tombs has become routine in various parts of India, especially in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh.
In the state of Assam, numerous mosques and dozens of Islamic schools were demolished, and more than 350 graves and shrines were demolished in the northern state of Uttarakhand over the past two years. Additionally, there were attempts to expel Muslims from the state on the pretext that it is the residence of Hindu deities, and it is impermissible for others to live there.
For several years, Indian authorities have extensively used heavy machinery (bulldozers) to carry out demolition operations in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, especially after Hindu protests, followed by allegations that Muslims pelted them with stones.
This allegation is sufficient to demolish the homes of the accused using bulldozers, which arrive at the scene within hours, or at most, the following day after the demonstration, before a judicial verdict is issued.
There was also the complete demolition of a Muslim fishermen’s neighborhood in “Bet Dwarka” on the coasts of the state of Gujarat in October 2022, affecting hundreds of houses, stores, mosques, graves, and shrines, while a solitary Hindu temple remained standing on the coast.
International Demands
Amid the expanded demolition policy, 3 United Nations special rapporteurs drew attention to the Indian government in June 2022, asserting that the demolition of Muslims’ homes by machinery in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party amounts to a policy of “collective punishment of Muslims.” They urged the Indian government to cease this unjust policy.
However, this warning did not deter Indian authorities, especially in the capital Delhi, which has witnessed dozens of such incidents in recent years.
These incidents occur under the pretext of beautifying the area, expanding streets, or demolishing unlicensed buildings, while thousands of illegal Hindu temples scattered throughout the city and its surroundings are not targeted, including in public parks and along the Yamuna River that flows through the city, where no one is allowed to build or even reside in close proximity.
