India: 185-Year-Old Mosque Partially Demolished Amid Encroachment Claims

India witnessed another controversial incident as authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district partially demolished a section of the historic Noori Mosque, citing encroachment allegations. The mosque, built in 1839, has become the center of a heated debate over heritage preservation and communal tensions.

The Public Works Department (PWD) stated that a notice was issued on August 17, declaring parts of the mosque as unauthorized constructions. Despite assurances from mosque officials to comply, they later challenged the notice in the High Court.

Muhammad Moin Khan, trustee of the mosque’s management committee, dismissed the claims, emphasizing that the road adjoining the mosque was constructed in 1956, well after the mosque was established. “This baseless action undermines the sanctity of our heritage,” he said.

The demolition has raised concerns about the growing use of bulldozers against minority communities, despite the Indian Supreme Court’s recent directives against such measures. Human rights activists have condemned the move, calling it part of a disturbing pattern targeting religious and historical sites.