Indian court prohibits large gatherings at historic mosque
LUCKNOW, INDIA MAY 16 REUTERS- A court in north India on Monday ordered authorities to limit large Muslim prayer gatherings in the historic Gyanvapi mosque after a survey team found relics of the Hindu god Shiva and other Hindu symbols there, lawyers involved in the case said.
The Gyanvapi mosque, located in the political constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is one of the three large mosques in northern Uttar Pradesh. Prominent groups believe it was built after demolishing a historic temple. Lawyer H. S. Jain, told the court that the survey team had found relics of Shiva and other Hindu symbols there. The judge banned Muslims from holding large prayer gathering inside the mosque.
Leaders of India’s 200 million Muslims see the latest move as another attempt by hardline Hindus to undermine their rights to free worship and religious expression, with the tacit agreement of Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).