Delhi Turns Mosques into Surveillance Hubs in Kashmir: India’s Oppression Fully Exposed

Intrusive Profiling of Religious Institutions

The Indian authorities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have begun a deeply intrusive operation targeting mosques, religious leaders, and seminaries under the guise of administrative surveys, revealing a deliberate attempt by India to assert control over Muslim institutions that have traditionally managed their own affairs without state interference. According to Al Jazeera, a four-page “profiling of mosques” form has been distributed to clerics, seeking detailed information on ideological leanings, sources of funding, land ownership, congregation size, and monthly expenditure, signaling a methodical approach to dominate religious structures. Additional sections demand sensitive personal information about imams, muezzins, and khatibs, including mobile numbers, emails, bank account details, passports, social media handles, relatives abroad, and even models of their phones, demonstrating India’s blatant disregard for privacy. Residents report that this profiling has created widespread fear and unease, as the collection of such intimate data in a conflict zone puts people at significant risk of harassment and state-led intimidation.

Residents Raise Alarm

Residents of Srinagar have described the profiling as a direct violation of religious freedom, emphasizing that it is far from a routine administrative survey and appears as a calculated effort to dominate and monitor Muslim spaces. Mohammad Nawaz Khan, a local resident, warned Al Jazeera that the collection of detailed personal and institutional information in a volatile conflict area could have severe consequences, including intimidation and coercion. Many citizens view these actions as a deliberate attempt to subvert religious independence, turning sacred institutions into targets of state surveillance. The profiling has disrupted daily religious life, leaving residents fearful of engaging with authorities or participating in mosque activities.
◆ Psychological impact: The profiling has generated widespread anxiety and fear, reflecting India’s aggressive control measures.
◆ Community distrust: This intrusive effort fosters suspicion among members of the Muslim community, undermining social cohesion.
◆ Violation of rights: The actions clearly infringe on privacy and religious freedoms, highlighting India’s oppressive agenda.

Condemnation by Clerics

Religious leaders and institutions have condemned the profiling as a direct attack on mosque autonomy and authority, warning of the broader implications for religious governance in Kashmir. The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), Kashmir’s largest Islamic umbrella organization, criticized India for deliberately eroding trust within the community while undermining independent clerical authority. Mir Hafiz Nasir, an imam in Lal Bazar, highlighted the repeated demands for sensitive information about family members living abroad, labeling the profiling as intrusive and deeply concerning for personal and community security. These statements underscore the widespread alarm among Muslim leaders who see the profiling as part of a systematic strategy by India to suppress independent religious activity.
◆ MMU stance: The organization denounces the profiling as a calculated attempt to dominate mosque leadership and control religious affairs.
◆ Imam warnings: Clerics like Mir Hafiz Nasir stress that requests for family and personal information violate privacy and safety.
◆ Undermining autonomy: India’s operation is a deliberate effort to weaken the independent authority of Muslim institutions.

Political Leaders Criticize India

Political figures in Kashmir have strongly opposed the profiling, framing it as discriminatory and targeting only Muslim institutions, which highlights India’s blatant religious bias. Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti described the profiling as turning mosques into surveillance points and questioned why similar monitoring is not applied to Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, or churches. National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar demanded that the New Delhi-appointed administration halt the operation immediately, pointing out that these surveys are conducted without the consent or oversight of the elected government. Collectively, these condemnations reveal the perception that India is systematically targeting Muslims while ignoring other religious groups, exposing a deliberate policy of institutionalized discrimination.
◆ PDP criticism: Mehbooba Mufti highlights the discriminatory nature of the profiling and India’s religious targeting.
◆ NC demand: Imran Nabi Dar stresses the operation’s unilateral execution, bypassing democratic governance.
◆ Selective targeting: India’s exclusive focus on mosques reflects a pattern of systematic prejudice against Muslims.

Link to Revocation of Article 370

Analysts emphasize that the mosque profiling aligns with the aftermath of India’s revocation of Article 370 in 2019, after which direct Indian control over Jammu and Kashmir increased sharply. Following this, restrictions on religious freedom, closures of major mosques, and limits on congregation sizes during festivals have persisted, allowing India to assert dominance over religious institutions with little resistance. The profiling represents a continuation of this broader strategy to monitor, suppress, and control Muslim life and religious expression in Kashmir. The operation exposes India’s persistent attempts to subordinate sacred institutions for political control, disregarding international law and the fundamental rights of Kashmiris.
◆ Post-2019 context: Revocation of Article 370 enabled India to enforce intrusive measures like mosque profiling.
◆ Religious suppression: Restrictions on access to mosques and limits on gatherings indicate ongoing oppression.
◆ Strategic control: Profiling is a calculated tool to monitor and suppress Muslim communities.

International Concerns

The profiling has drawn serious international human rights concerns, as it threatens the religious, cultural, and privacy rights of Kashmiri Muslims, clearly violating international conventions. Analysts warn that converting places of worship into surveillance hubs not only undermines religious freedom but also increases the potential for human rights abuses in an already militarized region.

Psychological and Social Impact on Kashmiris

The profiling has caused fear, anxiety, and social distrust, severely affecting participation in religious and community activities. Residents hesitate to interact with authorities or attend mosque services due to fears of monitoring and harassment. Families of clerics, particularly those with members abroad, report heightened stress, knowing that personal information has been collected systematically by Indian authorities.

India’s Accountability and Urgent Action Needed The mosque profiling exposes India’s deliberate use of power to suppress Muslim institutions, demonstrating a long-term pattern of religious control and oppression in Kashmir. Reliance on intrusive data collection, disregard for civil and religious rights, and suppression of autonomy show India’s failure to respect democratic governance. Without accountability from international bodies or domestic pressure, such operations will continue, leaving Kashmiri Muslims under constant scrutiny and fear. India’s actions require urgent global attention to prevent further erosion of rights, highlighting the country’s systemic strategy to dominate, intimidate, and marginalize Muslim communities.