HungHay8926976: Creating Basic Entry Initial Version

2026-02-05T04:46:52Z

Creating Basic Entry Initial Version

New page

{{Short description|Mosque in Sanjauli, Himachal Pradesh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Sanjauli Mosque
| religious_affiliation = [[Islam]]
| status = [[Mosque]]
| functional_status = Active
| location = [[Sanjauli]], [[Shimla district]], [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| country = [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coords|31.102384|77.192625|region:IN_type:building|format=dms|display=it}}
| map_type = India Himachal Pradesh
| map_size = 250
| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of the mosque in [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| ownership = [[Central Waqf Council|Waqf Board]]
| established = {{nowrap|1907 {{small|(as a community)}}}}
| year_completed = {{ubl|1947 {{small|(as a building)}};|{{nowrap|{{circa|2007}}–2018 {{small|(expansion)}}}}}}
| minaret_quantity = One {{small|(maybe more)}}
| footnotes = <ref name=IndiaTV>{{cite news |author=Sharma, Sheenu |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/explainers/shimla-mosque-protest-how-single-floor-masjid-expanded-into-five-storey-structure-in-himachal-pradesh-sanjauli-row-explained-latest-updates-2024-09-12-951772 |title=Shimla mosque row: How a single-floor mosque expanded into a 5-storey structure in Himachal's Sanjauli? |work=India TV News |date=12 September 2024 |access-date=6 January 2025 }}</ref>
}}

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]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-12 |title=Sanjauli mosque row: Muslim panel asks municipal corporation to seal illegal portion; offers to demolish it |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/himachal-pradesh/sanjauli-mosque-row-muslim-panel-asks-municipal-corporation-to-seal-illegal-portion-offers-to-demolish-it/article68633589.ece |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== History ==
Established in 1907, the mosque built on temple has been modified many times since, especially in since 2007, when multiple storeys were added, without development approval.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chouhan |first=Nirmanyu |date=2024-09-14 |title=Himachal Pradesh: With Sanjauli mosque, BJP once again uses urban planning as a Hindutva weapon |url=https://scroll.in/article/1073225/himachal-pradesh-with-sanjauli-mosque-bjp-once-again-uses-urban-planning-as-a-hindutva-weapon |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sanjauli mosque row: Muslim body cites 1915 revenue record, claims mosque not illegal, only upper floors in violation |url=https://www.indianeconomicobserver.com//news/sanjauli-mosque-row-muslim-body-cites-1915-revenue-record-claims-mosque-not-illegal-only-upper-floors-in-violation20251208210841// |access-date=2026-01-08 |website=Breaking news, top new, latest news, world news {{!}} Indian Economic Observer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-13 |title=All-party meet over Sanjauli mosque dispute ends, policy for street vendors on the cards |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/all-party-meet-sanjauli-mosque-dispute-ends-policy-street-vendors-9565987/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sanjauli Mosque: लटक सकता है संजौली मस्जिद का फैसला, जमीन की नहीं हुई पैमाइश; पिछली सुनवाई में दिए थे निर्देश |url=https://www.amarujala.com/himachal-pradesh/sanjauli-mosque-decision-on-sanjauli-mosque-may-be-put-on-hold-tland-has-not-been-measured-2024-09-19 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-12 |title=Muslim panel offers Shimla civic body to demolish 'illegal' portion of Sanjauli mosque |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/muslim-panel-offers-shimla-civic-body-demolish-illegal-portion-sanjauli-mosque-2598552-2024-09-12 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

=== 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 [[Central Waqf Council|Waqf Board]]. While the Waqf Board acknowledged the original single-floor mosque structure,<ref name=Daiji/> they were uncertain about the legality of the four floors<ref name=IndiaTV/> that were added by 2018, without approval.<ref name=Daiji/> On 30 August 2024, a group linked to the mosque allegedly attacked local traders, which intensified tensions in relation to the mosque's development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shimla Mosque Protest: क्या है संजौली मस्जिद विवाद? हिंदू संगठन क्यों कर रहे हैं गिराने की मांग; जानें सब कुछ |url=https://www.amarujala.com/himachal-pradesh/shimla-masjid-case-what-is-shimla-masjid-controversy-hindu-organizations-protest-against-sanjauli-mosque-2024-09-11 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Daiji/> The alleged assault sparked protests by [[Hindutva|Hindu right-wing organizations]], who argued that the mosque is being used to harbour "outsiders," raising communal tensions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-06 |title=Sanjauli Masjid Row: Why Locals Are Protesting In Shimla? What Led To Waqf Board's Intervention {{!}} Explained |url=https://english.jagran.com/india/sanjauli-masjid-controversy-shimla-mosque-protest-illegal-construction-news-himachal-pradesh-waqf-board-10185848 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906094407/https://english.jagran.com/india/sanjauli-masjid-controversy-shimla-mosque-protest-illegal-construction-news-himachal-pradesh-waqf-board-10185848 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=English Jagran |language=en}}</ref> It was also alleged that the complaints were driven by [[Islamophobia]] and anti-minority sentiment.<ref>{{cite news |author=Singh Panwar, Tikender |title=Sanjauli mosque row rooted in anti-minority sentiment |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/editor-picks/sanjauli-mosque-row-rooted-in-anti-minority-sentiment/ |work=[[The Tribune India]] |date=17 September 2024 |access-date=6 January 2025 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Begam |first=Amana |date=2024-09-13 |title=Reality behind Shimla mosque protest Indians ignore—Hindu fears over ‘changing demography’ |url=https://theprint.in/opinion/reality-behind-shimla-mosque-protest-indians-ignore-hindu-fears-over-changing-demography/2265617/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |date=2024-09-06 |title=Hindutva groups protest outside Sanjauli Masjid in Shimla, calls for demolition of "illegal mosque" |url=https://maktoobmedia.com/india/hindutva-groups-protest-outside-sanjauli-masjid-in-shimla-calls-for-demolition-of-illegal-mosque/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Maktoob media |language=en-US}}</ref> In September, it was reported that the matter had been ongoing for 14 years and that 45 [[Hearing (law)|hearings]] had been held since 2020.<ref name="Rajta2024"/> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=Protesters demanding demolition break through barricades, clash with police |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/sanjauli-mosque-himachal-pradesh-lathicharge-9561902/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> However, on 5 October, the Municipal Court ordered the demolition of illegal three floors.<ref name=Daiji/> The mosque committee voluntarily offered to carry out the demolition of three floors;<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Himachal Waqf Board Presents 2006 Document In Sanjauli Mosque Case, Confirms Latif Mohammad As President |url=https://theobserverpost.com/himachal-waqf-board-presents-document-in-sanjauli-mosque-case-confirms-latif-mohammad-as-president/ |work=The Observer Post |date=22 November 2024 |access-date=6 January 2025 }}</ref> and a two-month timeframe was given for completion of the demolition works.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranjan |first=Ravi |date=2024-10-06 |title=Sanjauli Mosque: संजौली मस्जिद पर चलेगा बुलडोजर, गिराए जाएंगे तीन फ्लोर, मस्जिद कमेटी अपने खर्च पर तोड़ेगी |url=https://lalluram.com/himachal-pradesh-bulldozer-will-run-on-sanjauli-mosque-three-floors-will-be-demolished-mosque-committee-will-demolish-at-its-own-expense/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Lalluram |language=hi}}</ref><ref name="Rajta2024">{{cite news |author=Rajta, Subhash |title=Muslims offer to demolish illegal part of Sanjauli mosque, submit memo to MC |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/muslims-offer-to-demolish-illegal-part-of-sanjauli-mosque-submit-memo-to-mc/ |work=[[The Tribune India]] |date=13 September 2024 |access-date=6 January 2025 }}</ref> In November, an [[appeal (law)|appeal]] by the Waqf Board against the order of the Municipal Court was dismissed by the Shimla District Court.<ref name=Daiji>{{cite news |author= |title=Sanjauli mosque dispute: District court upholds Municipal Court order, dismisses Mosque Committee’s
|url=https://daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1249209 |work=Daiji World.com |date=30 November 2024 |access-date=6 January 2025 }}</ref>

== 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-11 |title=Sanjauli Mosque Row: Heavy police force deployed in Shimla ahead of protest march |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/himachal-pradesh/sanjauli-mosque-row-heavy-police-force-deployed-in-shimla-ahead-of-protest-march/article68628756.ece |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Given its location in a hilly area, the structure blends harmoniously with the local landscape.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-11 |title=Shimla mosque row: As stir intensifies, police use water canons on protesters, resort to lathi-charge |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/sanjauli-mosque-row-protest-erupts-in-shimla-again-amid-prohibitory-orders/articleshow/113248137.cms |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=[[The Times of India]] |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{stack|{{portal|India|Islam}}}}
* [[Islam in India]]
* [[List of mosques in India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Additional reading ==
* {{cite book |title=Accumulation by Segregation: Muslim Localities in Delhi |author=Jamil, Ghazala |year=2017 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=New Delhi |pages=240 |isbn=9780199470655 }}

{{Mosques in India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1907 establishments in India]]
[[Category:20th-century mosques in India]]
[[Category:21st-century attacks on mosques]]
[[Category:Anti-Muslim violence in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Shimla district]]
[[Category:Hinduism-motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Mosque buildings with minarets in India]]
[[Category:Mosques completed in 1947]]
[[Category:Mosques in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Mosque-related controversies in Asia]]

Sanjauli Mosque - Revision history

HungHay8926976: Creating Basic Entry Initial Version