FO condemns profiling of mosques in IIOJK

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday condemned the reported profiling of mosques and their management committees in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), describing it as a blatant intrusion into religious affairs of Kashmiri Muslims.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said that the Indian action constitutes a grave violation of the fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief, and reflects yet another coercive attempt to intimidate and marginalise the Muslim population of the occupied territory.

The Foreign Office’s statement came after Indian newspaper Hindustan Times published a report, saying that police in the occupied valley distributed forms to collect financial and personal details of mosques and seminaries, including mosque leaders and members of management committees.

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According to Hindustan Times, the forms distributed in IIOJK contained sections for seminary teachers and mosque leaders to provide details of their “aadhaar cards, bank accounts, property ownership, social media handles, passport, ration card, driving licence, SIM cards and mobile phone model along with the IMEI.” The Indian newspaper also reported that details regarding the “religious sect” of the mosques have also been sought.

The Foreign Office said, “The forcible collection of personal details, photographs and sectarian affiliations of religious functionaries amounts to systematic harassment, aimed at instilling fear among worshippers and obstructing the free exercise of their faith.”

According to the statement, these actions form part of a broader pattern of institutionalised Islamophobia driven by the Hindutva ideology of the occupying Indian government.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026