Pakistan condemns anti-Azaan measures in India’s Karnataka, calls it ‘religious radicalism’

Muslim devotees offer prayers at the Chamarajpet Eidgah Masjid in Bangalore, India, on May 3, 2022. (AFP/File)

• A US commission last month said religious freedom had ‘significantly’ worsened in India
• In 2021, several attacks targeted religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday condemned anti-Azaan (Muslims’ call to prayer) measures around various mosques in the Indian state of Karnataka, the Pakistani foreign office said, describing it as a “new level of religious radicalism.” 
Rights groups and minority leaders say religious freedom has significantly deteriorated in India under the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which denies it discriminates against Muslims or any other religious minorities. 
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom last month asked India be placed on a list of “countries of particular concern” — a recommendation that angered New Delhi and was virtually certain to be dismissed by the US State Department. 
This is the third straight year, the panel, which is appointed to offer recommendations but does not set US policy, has voiced wide concern about South Asia. 
“Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the highly deplorable incidents involving playing of Hanuman Chalisa and other Hindu devotional songs on loudspeakers as a counter to the Muslims’ call to prayer at various mosques in Indian state of Karnataka,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement. 
It said the disturbing incidents occurred only a day after Sri Ram Sena chief made the despicable call for “drowning” the Azaan through provocative playing of Hanuman Chalisa and other Hindu religious hymns. 
“It is condemnable that a reprehensible so-called ‘Azan se Azaadi’ campaign has been launched by Hindu fanatic groups in Karnataka which lays bare the new level of religious radicalism in the BJP (Bharataiya Janata Party)-ruled India,” the statement read. 
The Pakistani foreign office said loudspeakers were being removed from mosques across various states in India on the pretext of ensuring “communal harmony.” 
“The ‘othering’ of Muslims in India and exclusionary policies aimed at denying their fundamental right to profess and practice their religion, only expose the deep-seated anti-Muslim prejudices in the Indian state and society,” it said further. 
Islamabad called upon the Indian government to transparently investigate the incidents of widespread violence against minorities, particularly Muslims, and their places of worship, and take measures to stop such incidents in the future. 
The government of India must ensure the safety, security and well-being of minorities, it added. 
The foreign office urged the international community to take note of the aggravating situation of Islamophobia in India, and play its due role in ensuring religious freedom and safety of Muslims residing in India. 
In 2021, several attacks targeted religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, in India as PM Modi’s government promoted its “ideological vision of a Hindu state” through policies hostile to minorities. 
Mobs and vigilante groups have carried out campaigns of threats and violence against minorities, giving rise to a culture of impunity in the South Asian country.