Wed Nov 27 13:42:00 UTC 2024: ## Muslim Forum Condemns Sambhal Mosque Survey, Demands Judicial Inquiry
**NEW DELHI, November 27, 2024** – The United Muslim Forum (UMF), a group of prominent Muslim religious figures, strongly condemned the recent survey of the Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in violent unrest and the deaths of five people after police opened fire. In a statement released Wednesday, the UMF expressed deep concern over what it called a growing trend of targeting historic mosques, characterizing the actions as communal and divisive.
The UMF alleges that legal and administrative mechanisms are being misused to fuel communal narratives, despite existing laws protecting religious structures. The forum specifically criticized the spread of false narratives linking the construction of certain mosques to the demolition of temples, citing Islamic injunctions that prohibit building mosques on disputed land. The statement further denounced attempts to associate features of mosque courtyards, such as open water fountains, with specific religious symbols.
The UMF has appealed to the Chief Justice of India to intervene, demanding the appointment of a sitting judge to investigate the matter. They also called for ex gratia payments to the families of those killed and the registration of cases against the police officers involved in the firing. The incident highlights escalating religious tensions in the region.
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