India’s Mosques Are Under Siege. The Destruction of the Babri Masjid Explains Why.

Thirty-two years after the Babri Masjid’s destruction by Hindu nationalist mobs, India remains deeply scarred by the event’s legacy. The demolition, sanctioned by the Supreme Court in 2019, set a precedent for the systematic targeting of Muslim heritage, religious sites, and communities. Prime Minister Modi’s consecration of a Hindu temple at the site in 2023 marked a dark milestone in institutionalized anti-Muslim violence.

The Ayodhya model—state-supported mob violence, lawfare, and Hindu nationalist fervour—has proliferated. Mosques like the Shamsi Jama Masjid and Gyanvapi face dubious claims of Hindu origins, with legal manoeuvres and police violence compounding the dispossession of Muslims. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s bulldozer campaigns, renaming of Muslim cities, and erasure of Muslim contributions from textbooks amplify this assault on India’s Muslim heritage.

Modi’s proposed waqf amendment threatens Muslim-owned properties nationwide, allowing government control and potentially leading to their destruction. The removal of critical legal protections, such as the “waqf by user” provision, exposes centuries-old mosques, madrassas, and graveyards to spurious claims and violence.

This ongoing campaign is not just an attack on India’s Muslims but a broader authoritarian push to silence dissent and destroy minority identities. The world must remember the Babri Masjid tragedy to prevent its repetition. Upholding the Places of Worship Act is essential to preserving India’s religious heritage and safeguarding its democracy.