Why Are India’s Mosques Turning Into Temple Disputes? | The Take

Why It Matters

The judgment risks setting a legal and political precedent that could accelerate reallocation of contested religious properties, deepen communal tensions, and bolster Hindutva-aligned narratives ahead of future elections. It raises questions about the neutrality of state-run archaeological evidence and the ability of minorities to defend longstanding places of worship.

Summary

A Madhya Pradesh high court has ruled that the 13th-century Kamal Maal structure in Dhar—long used as a mosque—is legally a Hindu temple, relying heavily on an Archaeological Survey of India report and citing Sanskrit inscriptions. The judgment bars Muslims from using the site, offers them alternative land to build a mosque, and has left the local Muslim community distraught while triggering heavy police deployment. Critics and historians say the ASI findings and the court’s reliance on reused architectural fragments are contestable, and Muslim lawyers complain they were unable to fully cross-examine the agency’s evidence. Observers note the ruling echoes the controversial 2019 Ayodhya decision and fits a broader pattern of court-sanctioned reclassification of religious sites.

Original Description

From mosques to temples, old religious battles are back in India’s courts. A law passed after the Babri Masjid dispute was meant to stop exactly this. But new claims are moving forward again, as Hindu nationalism grows and many Muslims fear the protections once promised to them are slipping away.

In this episode: 

- Yashraj Sharma, Al Jazeera Reporter

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Noor Wazwaz, Tuleen Barakat, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker.  

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.