Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir condemns demolition of mosques, madrasahs and waqf properties in India
Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir condemns demolition of mosques, madrasahs and waqf properties in India
Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir has condemned the state-sponsored demolition of historical mosques, madrasahs and waqf properties in India, as well as the systematic restriction of the religious and civil rights of the country’s Muslim community.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Chhatrashibir central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah expressed deep concern over the demolition of centuries-old Muslim religious structures in different Indian states in the name of eviction and road expansion.
“The recent demolition of part of the centuries-old historic Shahi Mosque in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, is deeply concerning,” the leaders said. “The way protests by local Muslims against the demolition have been dealt with through administrative force, repression and arrests is not desirable in any civilised country.”
They said the “bulldozer policy” of demolishing religious structures while bypassing specific legal procedures and judicial directions, reportedly implemented in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Gujarat, runs counter to India’s secular Constitution and the rule of law.
The Chhatrashibir leaders also expressed concern over what they described as the growing social and legal marginalisation of India’s Muslim population, which they estimated at nearly 210 million.
“In recent years, India has enacted a series of controversial laws and policies concerning citizenship, religious rights and waqf properties belonging to Muslims,” they said. “The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the controversy surrounding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and, most recently, the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, have increased the scope of government intervention and control over waqf properties.” They said these measures “appear to constitute a far-reaching legal and administrative framework” that is weakening the social, economic and religious protections of India’s Muslim minority.
The leaders also raised concerns over restrictions on the civil and religious freedoms of Muslims, citing alleged obstruction of religious practices in public places, restrictions on freedom of dress, and attacks and mob lynchings linked to cattle transport or trade.
They further alleged that Muslims face discrimination in employment and access to housing due to the spread of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment.
The statement also alleged that victims are being deprived of fair legal remedies because of perceived bias in some areas of local administration and judicial processes. The leaders expressed concern over what they described as the neglect of Muslims’ historical contributions and heritage in the education system and the changing of names of historical places.
They said such developments were deeply worrying for India’s pluralistic tradition and the cultural rights of minorities.
“We firmly believe that India is historically a pluralistic and multi-religious country,” the leaders said, warning that attempts to establish political or social dominance by a particular ideology could threaten regional stability.
“Attempts to curtail the fundamental and constitutional rights of a large population on the basis of religious differences must be stopped immediately,” they said.
The leaders called on international human rights organisations, the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to play an effective diplomatic role in protecting the lives, property, dignity and religious rights of India’s Muslim minority. They also urged the Indian government to respect international law and refrain from discriminatory and repressive policies.