Islamabad, Pakistan has appealed to the United Nations to take immediate action to preserve Islamic heritage sites in India, following the controversial demolition of the historic Akhonji mosque in New Delhi last week. This move highlights growing concerns over what is perceived as an increasing threat to Islamic sites in India amid rising Hindu-majoritarian policies.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations, has written to Miguel Angel Moratinos, the head of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), expressing alarm over what he described as a “highly disturbing chapter in an alarming campaign targeting Islamic sites and heritage in India.” Ambassador Akram detailed the sudden demolition of the over 800-year-old Akhonji mosque by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), executed under heavy police watch without prior notice to the mosque’s community, worshippers, and associated Madrassa students.

The letter elaborated on the broader context of such actions, noting that several mosques and Islamic shrines in India have been destroyed under various pretexts, including administrative measures and judicial orders. Furthermore, these religious sites continue to face threats of vandalism by extremist groups.

Ambassador Akram’s correspondence underscored the grave implications of these incidents for the Muslim community in India, attributing them to the spread of the Hindutva ideology and increasing Islamophobia. He cited the online circulation of a video featuring Imam Zakir Hussain, the spiritual leader of the demolished Akhonji mosque, lamenting the loss of a significant religious and educational institution that also served as a resting place for revered figures.

The Pakistani representative drew parallels between the destruction of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya and the recent demolition of the Akhonji mosque, calling for urgent implementation of the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan on the Protection of Religious Sites. He urged the UNAOC to undertake a comprehensive mapping of religious sites in India to prevent further destruction and ensure their preservation.

The appeal to the UN for intervention underscores the critical need for international engagement to safeguard religious heritage and promote inter-faith harmony and inclusivity in the face of growing intolerance and discrimination.