Mazaj News (Web Desk) On Saturday, Pakistan strongly condemned the reported profiling of mosques and mosque management committees in Indian-administered Kashmir, describing it as “a blatant intrusion into religious affairs and a serious violation of the fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief.”
The statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office came after reports that police in the occupied valley were distributing forms to collect personal and financial information from mosques and seminaries, including details of mosque leaders and members of management committees. According to a report by The Hindustan Times, citing local residents and Kashmiri leaders, the move “represents yet another coercive attempt to intimidate and marginalize the Muslim population of the occupied territory.”
The forms reportedly requested information such as Aadhaar card numbers, bank accounts, property ownership, social media handles, passports, ration cards, driving licenses, SIM cards, mobile phone models, and IMEI numbers for seminary teachers and mosque officials. They also asked for the religious sect of the mosques.
A lawmaker from Srinagar described the measure as “an infringement on the religious freedom guaranteed under the Indian Constitution” and said it was intended to “control religion and mosques,” the report added.
Pakistan’s FO stated that “forcibly collecting personal details, photographs, and sectarian affiliations of religious leaders amounts to systematic harassment, aiming to instill fear among worshippers and hinder their free exercise of faith.”
“These actions are part of a wider pattern of institutionalized Islamophobia driven by the Hindutva ideology of the occupying Indian government,” the statement said, adding that “the selective targeting of mosques and Muslim clergy exposes the discriminatory and communal nature of these policies.”
The FO emphasized that “the people of Jammu and Kashmir have an inalienable right to practice their religion freely, without fear, coercion, or discrimination.”
“Pakistan will continue to stand in solidarity with them and raise its voice against all forms of religious persecution and intolerance faced by Kashmiris,” the statement concluded.
In November, United Nations experts also raised concerns about “serious human rights violations” in Indian-administered Kashmir, issuing warnings following the Pahalgam attack.