Conference in New Delhi calls for accountability and legal action against the growing pattern of targeting Muslim places of worship
NEW DELHI — The recent demolition of mosques across several states across the country poses a threat to religious freedom and constitutional rights, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has said.
Raising alarm over the bulldozing of several mosques, lawyers, former lawmakers, activists, religious leaders and community representatives called for accountability and legal action against the growing pattern of targeting Muslim places of worship.
The concern was raised at an APCR conference titled “Demolition of Mosques and Attack on Religious Freedom in India.” The meeting on Monday brought together advocates, jurists, intellectuals, human rights activists, civil society members and representatives from communities affected by recent arbitrary and unjustified action in different parts of the country.
Among those who addressed the gathering were former Union minister and senior advocate Salman Khurshid, former MP Mohammad Adeeb, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind vice-president Malik Mohtasim Khan, former Delhi Minorities Commission chairman Zafrul Islam Khan, author and social activist Dr Syeda Hameed, human rights defender John Dayal, APCR National Secretary Nadeem Khan, and advocates Syed Sadat Ali and Riyasat Ali.
Several speakers argued that the demolition of mosques in different states was not merely a question of property disputes but one that touched upon constitutional guarantees, religious freedom and equal treatment before the law.
Salman Khurshid called for sustained legal intervention, asserting that affected communities must use every available legal avenue to challenge demolitions. “This fight is a long one. Every legal avenue available to us must be used,” he said, adding that efforts should be guided by those best equipped to pursue justice rather than by narrow interests.
Mohammad Adeeb demanded accountability from officials involved in demolitions that are later found to be unlawful. He argued that administrative and police officials responsible for such actions should face prosecution and be held financially liable.
Malik Mohtasim Khan emphasised solidarity among communities, saying the response to injustice must be collective. “The oppressor must become weak, and the oppressed must become strong,” he said, urging people across communities to stand together.
A recurring theme during the event was the importance of pursuing legal remedies even when the chances of success appear uncertain. Zafrul Islam Khan urged communities to challenge demolitions in court and create a documented historical record of such disputes.
“Even if there is a 50 per cent chance of losing, go to the high court,” he said. Referring to the Babri Masjid case, Khan argued that documenting legal battles was important for historical accountability regardless of the eventual outcome.
Dr Syeda Hameed placed the issue within a broader historical context, recalling her experiences during the Babri Masjid movement and the 2002 anti-Muslim Gujarat riots. She described the current situation as a challenge not only for Muslims but for all those committed to India’s pluralistic values.
“This is a question of our existence,” she said, while expressing confidence that people from different faiths would stand together against discrimination and exclusion.
Human rights activist John Dayal alleged that attacks on minority institutions were occurring across communities and linked the issue to broader political developments. He argued that the targeting of Muslims had become a political tool and described recent developments as coordinated rather than isolated incidents.
Nadeem Khan, National Secretary of APCR, presented what he described as a pattern of demolitions across multiple states. According to him, at least 20 mosques were targeted within a span of 15 days in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Drawing a comparison with earlier instances of mob violence, Khan claimed that mosque demolitions were being used to send a wider message to Muslim communities. “It used to scare Muslims with the lynching of an individual; now the whole community is affected through the demolition of mosques,” he said.
Advocate Syed Sadat Ali highlighted the situation in Rajasthan, claiming that hundreds of mosques in border districts had received notices from authorities. Referring to Barmer district, he said around 300 mosques had been served notices and questioned why action appeared to be concentrated on one community’s religious institutions only.
Advocate Riyasat Ali stressed the need to hold public officials accountable for actions that violate constitutional protections. He argued that any official’s actions outside the law should face legal consequences and that all responses to the issue must remain rooted in constitutional principles.
Community representatives from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and other states also shared accounts of demolitions in their localities. Among the cases highlighted was the demolition of the Noorani Mosque in Jaipur’s Nandpuri area. Speakers said the mosque had existed for decades, appeared in government records and was listed on the Waqf portal, yet was demolished without prior notice to the mosque committee.
Participants said such actions had social, cultural and religious consequences that extended beyond the loss of physical structures. They also raised concerns about the alleged absence of consultation, transparency and procedural safeguards in several cases.
Concluding the event, speakers called for accountability, adherence to the rule of law and equal protection for places of worship belonging to all faiths.
