| Sanjauli Mosque | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mosque |
| Ownership | Waqf Board |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Sanjauli, Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh |
| Country | India |
  Location of the mosque in Himachal Pradesh | |
| Geographic coordinates | 31°06′09″N 77°11′33″E / 31.102384°N 77.192625°E / 31.102384; 77.192625 |
| Architecture | |
| Date established | 1907 (as a community) |
| Completed |
|
| Minaret(s) | One (maybe more) |
The Sanjauli Mosque is a mosque, located in Sanjauli, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is one of the prominent mosques in the Shimla district.
History
Established in 1907, the mosque has been modified many times since, especially in since 2007, when multiple storeys were added, without development approval.
2024 controversy
During 2024 Hindu groups and local residents raised concerns over the mosque's expansion, claiming that it was illegal and that the land belongs to the Revenue Department, not the Waqf Board. While the Waqf Board acknowledged the original single-floor mosque structure, they were uncertain about the legality of the four floors that were added by 2018, without approval. On 30 August 2024, a group linked to the mosque allegedly attacked local traders, which intensified tensions in relation to the mosque's development. Media reports claimed that there was an incident where a Hindu man was allegedly assaulted by six individuals who reportedly sought refuge in the mosque. The alleged assault sparked protests by Hindu right-wing organizations, who argued that the mosque is being used to harbour "outsiders," raising communal tensions. It was also suggested that the complaints were driven by Islamophobia and anti-minority sentiment. The situation garnered political attention, with some local leaders advocating for the mosque's demolition, while the state government emphasized equal rights for all citizens and vowed to maintain peace. In September, it was reported that the matter had been ongoing for 14 years and that 45 hearings had been held since 2020. In order to quell the dispute, the Waqf Board requested the Municipal Court to not order the demolition of the mosque while they sought approval for the construction from the local Council. However, on 5 October, the Municipal Court ordered the demolition of illegal three floors. The mosque committee voluntarily offered to carry out the demolition of three floors; and a two-month timeframe was given for completion of the demolition works. In November, an appeal by the Waqf Board against the order of the Municipal Court was dismissed by the Shimla District Court.
Architecture
The mosque exhibits a traditional Islamic architectural style, with a clean and modest design. It typically has features like arches and a minaret, common in many Indian mosques. Given its location in a hilly area, the structure blends harmoniously with the local landscape.
See also
References
- ^ Sharma, Sheenu (12 September 2024). "Shimla mosque row: How a single-floor mosque expanded into a 5-storey structure in Himachal's Sanjauli?". India TV News. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "Sanjauli mosque row: Muslim panel asks municipal corporation to seal illegal portion; offers to demolish it". The Hindu. 12 September 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- Chouhan, Nirmanyu (14 September 2024). "Himachal Pradesh: With Sanjauli mosque, BJP once again uses urban planning as a Hindutva weapon". Scroll.in. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- "All-party meet over Sanjauli mosque dispute ends, policy for street vendors on the cards". The Indian Express. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- "Sanjauli Mosque: लटक सकता है संजौली मस्जिद का फैसला, जमीन की नहीं हुई पैमाइश; पिछली सुनवाई में दिए थे निर्देश". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- "Muslim panel offers Shimla civic body to demolish 'illegal' portion of Sanjauli mosque". India Today. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ "Sanjauli mosque dispute: District court upholds Municipal Court order, dismisses Mosque Committee's". Daiji World.com. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "Shimla Mosque Protest: क्या है संजौली मस्जिद विवाद? हिंदू संगठन क्यों कर रहे हैं गिराने की मांग; जानें सब कुछ". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- "Sanjauli Masjid Row: Why Locals Are Protesting In Shimla? What Led To Waqf Board's Intervention | Explained". English Jagran. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- Singh Panwar, Tikender (17 September 2024). "Sanjauli mosque row rooted in anti-minority sentiment". The Tribune India. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- Begam, Amana (13 September 2024). "Reality behind Shimla mosque protest Indians ignore—Hindu fears over 'changing demography'". ThePrint. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- "Hindutva groups protest outside Sanjauli Masjid in Shimla, calls for demolition of "illegal mosque"". Maktoob media. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ Rajta, Subhash (13 September 2024). "Muslims offer to demolish illegal part of Sanjauli mosque, submit memo to MC". The Tribune India. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- "Protesters demanding demolition break through barricades, clash with police". The Indian Express. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- "Himachal Waqf Board Presents 2006 Document In Sanjauli Mosque Case, Confirms Latif Mohammad As President". The Observer Post. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- Ranjan, Ravi (6 October 2024). "Sanjauli Mosque: संजौली मस्जिद पर चलेगा बुलडोजर, गिराए जाएंगे तीन फ्लोर, मस्जिद कमेटी अपने खर्च पर तोड़ेगी". Lalluram (in Hindi). Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- "Sanjauli Mosque Row: Heavy police force deployed in Shimla ahead of protest march". The Hindu. 11 September 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- "Shimla mosque row: As stir intensifies, police use water canons on protesters, resort to lathi-charge". The Times of India. 11 September 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
Additional reading
- Jamil, Ghazala (2017). Accumulation by Segregation: Muslim Localities in Delhi. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 240. ISBN 9780199470655.
