US Indian Muslim Council Condemns Demolition of Parts of Historic Shahi Mosque
US Indian Muslim Council Condemns Demolition of Parts of Historic Shahi Mosque
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The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) has condemned the demolition of parts of the historic Shahi Mosque in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, and criticized the police response to Muslim protesters opposing the removal of sections of the mosque as part of a road-widening project.
According to Indian media reports cited by the council, police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters gathered outside the mosque on September 28. More than 20 people were reportedly detained following the clashes, while authorities deployed more than 2,500 security personnel in the area to prevent further unrest.
The dispute centers on a road expansion project linked to infrastructure development in Ujjain ahead of Hindu religious events expected in 2028. Authorities say parts of the centuries-old mosque, including sections of its prayer hall and a minaret, fall within the planned road alignment.
The IAMC said local Muslim representatives had proposed an alternative route that would allow the project to proceed without affecting the mosque, but the proposal was rejected by authorities. Following a three-day sit-in, local residents reportedly agreed to remove a limited section of the structure themselves and began dismantling parts of it manually before demolition equipment arrived.
IAMC called for an immediate halt to any further demolition, an independent investigation into the police response, and the withdrawal of cases against protesters, whom the organization described as peaceful.
IAMC President Mohammed Jawad said the Ujjain dispute reflects, in the organization’s assessment, a broader pattern of conflicts involving mosques and Islamic heritage sites in India, including disputes connected to road construction and urban development projects.
The council cited similar cases in recent years, including the removal of a 16th-century mosque in Prayagraj in 2023 as part of a road-widening project, as well as violence surrounding a mosque dispute in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, in 2024.
The IAMC has also urged the U.S. State Department, relevant United Nations special rapporteurs on freedom of religion and cultural rights, and UNESCO to monitor the case and assess the impact of removing religious and heritage sites on India’s cultural and religious heritage.
