ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called on the global community to acknowledge and address the increasing incidents of Islamophobia, hate speech, and attacks motivated by hatred in India.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad issued a statement today, where Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi appealed to the United Nations and other international organizations to take active measures to preserve Islamic heritage and safeguard the religious and cultural rights of all minority communities in India.
The statement also emphasized the need for the Indian government to fulfill its responsibilities by ensuring the protection of all religious groups, particularly Muslims, and safeguarding their places of worship in line with international human rights standards.
Expressing serious concern, the statement highlighted the flag hoisting ceremony at the recently constructed “Ram Temple” on the site of the historic Babri Mosque in Ayodhya. It recalled that the Babri Mosque, a centuries-old place of worship, was demolished on December 6, 1992, by extremist mobs influenced by fascist ideologies. It further criticized India’s judicial proceedings that absolved those involved in the demolition and sanctioned the construction of a temple on the same site, describing this as evidence of the Indian state’s discriminatory approach towards minorities.
The statement underscored a troubling pattern where Indian minorities, particularly Muslims, face pressure and marginalization, including deliberate attempts to diminish Muslim cultural and religious heritage under a majoritarian Hindutva-driven ideology.
It also noted that other historic mosques are at risk of desecration or demolition, while Muslims in India continue to endure increasing social, economic, and political exclusion.
