Threat to Historic Mosques Grows Since Babri Verdict, say Indian-Americans
Press contact: media.info@iamc.com
Washington, D.C. (December 6, 2025) – The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) today marks the anniversary of the illegal demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 as a moment of solemn remembrance, not only for the destruction of a centuries-old mosque, but for the profound erosion of India’s constitutional and secular foundations.
The 2019 Supreme Court judgment, which recognized the destruction of the mosque as an “egregious criminal act” yet ultimately handed the land over for the construction of a temple, represents a catastrophic failure of justice. This decision, in effect, legalized the fruits of a criminal act and has been widely criticized by constitutional experts as being illegal, anti-constitutional, and prioritizing political faith over facts and law.
This verdict did not resolve a dispute but set a dangerous precedent. By validating a title claim rooted in religious majoritarian fervor and historical grievances rather than in documented legal precedent, the Supreme Court has provided a perilous blueprint for the aggressive targeting of thousands of other historical mosques and Islamic heritage sites across India.
The most immediate and chilling consequence of the Babri Masjid judgment is the dramatic renewal of attacks on two other major historic sites: the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura.
The legal and political campaigns against these mosques, demanding surveys, historical re-examinations, and ultimately, transfer of the land for temple construction, mirror the same manufactured historical grievances and legal maneuvering that culminated in the demolition and eventual judicial handover of the Babri Masjid site. These renewed flashpoints expose the systematic intent to rewrite history and marginalize the Muslim community.
It is essential that the Indian government and courts uphold the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, in both letter and spirit and immediately halt all legal challenges against the Gyanvapi Mosque, the Shahi Idgah Mosque, and all other historical Islamic structures. IAMC also reiterates the urgent need for full criminal accountability for every individual involved in the demolition of the Babri Masjid, regardless of political position or influence.
The fate of India’s constitutional democracy hangs in the balance. The targeting of these historic sites is a direct attack on the identity, security, and equal citizenship of India’s 200 million Muslims. The world must not remain silent as a dangerous majoritarian campaign systematically seeks to dismantle India’s secular republic, one historic mosque at a time.
