The administration in India’s Uttar Pradesh state has defied a state high court order and bulldozed a historic mosque.
This is one of the most inflammatory actions taken against a Muslim place of worship since demolition of the Babri Mosque by Hindu extremists in 1992.
The mosque, called Waqf Masjid Gareeb Nawaz Al Maroof Tehsil Wali, in the district of Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh, had stood for six decades, since the time of the British rule, according to documents held by its committee.
Police and security services moved into the area and cleared it of people on Monday, then brought in bulldozers and demolished the mosque buildings. Debris was then thrown into a river, according to images and local accounts. Security services have been deployed to prevent anyone coming within a mile of where the mosque stood.
In Barabanki UP A 100 years Old Gareeb Nawaz Masjid has been Demolished by SDM Order where Court Stay Order is till 31 May 2021
Why SDM Goes Against Court Order and Demolished Masjid?
In the Name Of Illegal Construction Masjid has been Demolished #RebuildGhareebNawazMasjid pic.twitter.com/mlMp6KnK4M
— faizan (@faizan0008) May 18, 2021
The state government of Uttar Pradesh is controlled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), which also governs at the national level.
The chief minister is a hardline Hindu nationalist called Yogi Adityanath, who is known for his vitriol against Muslims. He has made speeches laced with Islamophobia, referred to Muslims as terrorists, and passed legislation openly discriminatory to Muslims.
Hindu extremists set Delhi mosque on fire amid anti-CAA riots
