Tensions Rise in India Over Mosque Conversions as Hindu Nationalists Seek More Religious Sites

A new wave of controversy has emerged in India as Hindu nationalists intensify demands for the conversion of additional Islamic sites into temples. This resurgence follows the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024, a site that was a focal point of religious conflict due to the destruction of a mosque there in 1992.

The latest site under scrutiny is the Sambhal Friday Mosque in Uttar Pradesh, which state authorities are now investigating based on claims that it was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple from the 16th century. The state, governed by the controversial Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath since 2017, has witnessed rising tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities. Clashes during archaeological examinations at the mosque led to the deaths of five Muslim individuals, further inflaming the situation.

On November 19, a court ordered an inquiry into the mosque's historical significance, despite a 1991 law that maintains the status quo of religious sites established before India's independence in 1947. This law aimed to prevent religious conflicts by prohibiting the transformation of such sites, with the only exception being the previously contested Babri Mosque, which was demolished in 1992.

Hindu nationalists have also set their sights on other prominent Islamic sites, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura. The current situation now involves disputes over eleven Islamic sites across India, predominantly in Uttar Pradesh. Observers note that this movement reflects a broader strategy by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party to consolidate Hindu voter support, despite potential societal ramifications.

While India is constitutionally secular, the rhetoric from government officials suggests a growing intertwining of religion and politics. Adityanath's recent statements advocating for the Mosque's voluntary transfer to Hindu control highlight escalating tensions. As the situation unfolds, the Supreme Court of India has urged local authorities in Sambhal to refrain from further actions that might exacerbate the conflict, illustrating a precarious balance between law, religion, and political interests.