India's islamophobia

Islamophobia in India is not confined to sporadic acts of mob violence. It assumes the character of state policy, extending its reach deep into the occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir, where even places of worship are no longer spared intrusive surveillance. The reported profiling of mosques and mosque management committees in the disputed Himalayan territory marks yet another troubling escalation in New Delhi's campaign to securitise Muslim religious life.

According to reports, police in the occupied valley have distributed detailed forms seeking personal, financial and digital information of mosque leaders and members of management committees. Pakistan has rightly condemned this development, calling it a blatant intrusion into religious affairs and a grave violation of the fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief. It contradicts India's own constitutional guarantees and fits neatly into a broader pattern under the Hindutva-driven political order.

From laws regulating Muslim charitable endowments to crackdowns on religious education and now the profiling of mosques, the Indian state has steadily normalised discrimination under the guise of governance and security. In IIOJK, such actions carry even graver implications. In a region already stripped of political autonomy and subjected to heavy militarisation, the targeting of religious institutions further erodes the social and spiritual space available to Kashmiris.

Freedom of religion is not a concession granted by the state. It is an inalienable right. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are entitled to practise their faith without fear, coercion or surveillance. Pakistan's commitment to standing in solidarity with Kashmiris remains necessary, but the responsibility does not rest with Islamabad alone. The international community, particularly those who claim to champion religious freedom and minority rights, must recognise Islamophobia for what it. Silence, at this point, risks becoming complicity.