ISLAMABAD: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has urged the US State Department to publicly oppose the planned partial removal of Ujjain’s historic Shahi Masjid in Madhya Pradesh and press Indian authorities to protect the mosque and the rights of its worshippers.
CAIR, the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation in the United States, called for an immediate briefing from Indian authorities and urged Washington to seek alternatives that would preserve the mosque’s structure and religious functions.
The development follows protests in Ujjain over the proposed demolition of part of the mosque for a road-widening project ahead of the 2028 Simhastha Kumbh.
Police used tear gas after clashes and stone-pelting were reported near the site.
Road Widening Dispute
The Ujjain Municipal Corporation plans to widen a road to 15 metres, with portions of the Shahi Masjid falling within the proposed alignment. The mosque is registered as a Waqf property, while petitioners have described it as a historic religious structure dating back centuries.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on September 9 dismissed petitions challenging the proposed removal, saying authorities had followed the required legal process and citing traffic management and public safety ahead of the 2028 religious gathering.
The court noted that portions of other religious structures had also been removed along the route.
A subsequent hearing on September 28 resulted in an agreement allowing the removal of no more than three feet from the affected portion, according to Indian media reports.
CAIR Appeal
CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad called on the State Department and members of Congress to raise the issue with Indian authorities.
CAIR said US officials should press for a transparent assessment of alternatives to demolition and urge authorities to protect worshippers and allow peaceful expression without intimidation or excessive force.
The organisation also called for the broader protection of Muslim places of worship and Waqf properties to be raised in US discussions with India.
Wider Concerns
CAIR also cited concerns raised by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) over religious-freedom conditions affecting minorities in India.
The Ujjain dispute has drawn attention beyond the city as authorities proceed with a wider infrastructure programme linked to the expected influx of pilgrims for a Hindu Simhastha festival in 2028.
Indian authorities have said the road-widening work is intended to improve traffic management and public safety, while mosque representatives and residents have sought alternatives that would avoid damage to the structure.
