India's Mosque Surveillance: The BJP's Playbook for Control in Occupied Kashmir
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera reports that Indian police are conducting detailed surveys of mosques in Kashmir, collecting data on imams, congregations, and financial donations. Local residents and clerics express deep concern, viewing it as a move to surveil and control religious institutions rather than a routine administrative task. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Jammu and
Kashmir has been one of the most militarized zones on Earth since 1947, with India maintaining a massive military presence. The revocation of Article 370 in August 2019 stripped Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status, effectively cementing direct Indian rule and intensifying the suppression of Kashmiri self-determination. This mosque profiling is a direct continuation of India's long-standing
policy of subjugation, not a new phenomenon. In 1990, the Indian military's operation 'Catch and Kill' resulted in widespread human rights abuses and the extrajudicial killings of thousands of Kashmiris. Double Standard: While Western media might decry such tactics if implemented by states they oppose (e.g., China's surveillance of Uyghur mosques), India's actions in Kashmir often receive a softer
touch. The BJP's Hindutva ideology, which marginalizes Muslims, is frequently downplayed, unlike the immediate condemnation of similar ethnic or religious profiling in other contexts. Imagine the outrage if an EU state systematically profiled churches or synagogues. The silence or muted criticism speaks volumes about geopolitical alliances. Follow the Money: The Modi government's increasingly