Pakistan condemns vandalisation of mosques, Muslim properties in India

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office of Pakistan on Friday condemned the vandalisation of mosques and the properties of Muslims in the Tripura state of India, saying the state machinery had failed to protect Muslims.

The Foreign Office statement came amid reports that radical Hindutva mobs destroyed several mosques, houses and shops of Muslims in the Indian state.

“These senseless attacks are continuing since last week. The state machinery has reportedly not only failed to protect Muslims and their properties but remained non-responsive to desperate calls for help by the local Muslim organisations,” the statement read.

More than 10 incidents of religious violence have surfaced in India’s Tripura state this week after Hindu mobs tried to stage violent protests against attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Religious tension had flared up in Bangladesh after rumours spread that Quran was insulted at a Hindu religious festival event.

Indian opposition blamed elements linked with the BJP party for attacks on Muslims in the state. It said that the BJP was trying to polarise the voters ahead of municipal elections next month.

It was reprehensible that the Hindutva driven BJP-RSS combine had a track record of conducting massacres and systemic human rights violations of Muslims under its watch, from Gujarat in 2002 to New Delhi in 2020, the FO added.

“In today’s India, there is little space for minorities and their way of life.”

According to the FO, it was equally condemnable that targeted and brutal eviction of Muslims from their decades-old homes in Assam continued unabated.

Pakistan called upon the international community to play its role to stop the rising tide of Islamophobia and attacks against minorities, particularly Muslims in India.

“This must ensure safety, security and well-being and protection of their places of worship and heritage sites,” the FO concluded.