Jakarta (03/08) — A mosque was burned and a cleric (imam of the mosque) was killed in inter-religious clashes that broke out in the State of Haryana, India to be precise in the Nuh District bordering Gurugram with a majority Muslims population. Apart from that, shops and restaurants which are mostly owned by Muslims were also damaged and burned by a group of people (31/7).
The PKS Faction through its Chairperson, Jazuli Juwaini, strongly condemned such action which reflected the real extremism and intolerance, as well as violations of human rights. The PKS Faction demanded the Government of India to resolve the conflict, prosecute the perpetrators, and ensure the safety of Muslims and their places of worship.
“The PKS Faction urges the Indian Government to take a firm stand and strict action against the perpetrators, and protect Indian Muslims from violence, cruelty and persecution. Such action does not reflect a civilized and dignified nation at all,” emphasized the Member of Commission I of the Banten constituency.
The PKS Faction also demanded that the Government of Indonesia be proactive in reminding India, since the attack against Indian Muslims could disrupt world’s peace and order, and may spark international solidarity. India should follow Indonesia’s example, whose religious communities live side by side in peace and tolerance.
He then states, “The PKS Faction asks the Indonesian government to be proactive in realizing the mandate of the Constitution, which is to participate in the establishment of the world order, voicing the solidarity of Indonesian Muslims against violence and discriminatory acts that have befallen Muslim brothers in India. Call the Indian Ambassador and convey Indonesia’s concern and firm stance.”
The government, continued Jazuli, also needs to take firm steps in accordance with international law through international organizations, especially the UN and actively bring the problems of Muslims in India to the international forums. This must be done since Indonesia cherish the world peace and order, and strives for the establishment of civilized and dignified world civilization.
Muslims in India are often faced with persecution and discrimination, especially enticed by the right-wing Hindu nationalist groups. Last year, India faced backlash for insulting remarks by two senior members of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which has ruled the country since 2014.
They also launched a campaign against Friday prayers in several cities. In March, 2023, a 100-year old mosque and madrasa were vandalized and destroyed by the Hindutva mobs in Bihar Sharif, East India. More than 4,500 Islamic books including copies of the Al-Qur’an in the madrasa were burned. In 2020 the burning of a mosque also occurred in the area of Ashok Nagar, New Delhi, which caused 11 deaths.
“STOP violence and discrimination against Muslims in India,” concluded Jazuli.