{
  "id": 5992364,
  "title": "FO condemns mosque demolition in India's Uttar Pradesh, terms it part of 'drive to erase Islamic heritage'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/fo-condemns-mosque-demolition-in-indias-uttar-pradesh-terms-it-part",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-06T14:45:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2027919/fo-condemns-mosque-demolition-in-indias-uttar-pradesh-terms-it-part-of-drive-to-erase-islamic-heritage"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States Foreign Office has strongly condemned the recent demolition of a century-old mosque in India's Uttar Pradesh, labeling it as part of a broader campaign to suppress Islamic heritage in the country. FO spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan described the action as \"reprehensible\" and a symbol of religious intolerance. The mosque in question, located in Saharanpur, was demolished a day after a district court dismissed an appeal regarding its status on government land. The decision, made three days prior to the demolition, did not explicitly mention demolition. Mosque staff member Tanveer Ahmed claimed the structure to be about 150 years old, asserting that the land was registered in their names. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the demolition, questioning the applicability of constitutional freedom of religion provisions to Muslims. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen was founded in 1918 and is one of the largest Islamic political parties in India. In recent years, the organization has been vocal in its defense of Muslim rights and interests. In 2024, the historic Akhonji mosque, over 600 years old, was also demolished without prior notice in Delhi's Mehrauli district.",
  "summary": "Pakistan on Sunday condemned the demolition of a century-old mosque in India’s Uttar Pradesh, describing it as part of an “Islamophobic and Hindutva-driven campaign to erase the Islamic heritage” in the country. Responding to media queries regarding the demolition, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan condemned the move and described it as “a reprehensible action against a historic…",
  "key_points": [
    "US State Department condemns mosque demolition in India's Uttar Pradesh.",
    "FO spokesperson calls it \"reprehensible\" and symbol of religious intolerance.",
    "Mosque, over 150 years old, demolished despite court dismissal of appeal."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/india-china-corps-commanders-hold-talks-in-arunachal-pradesh",
        "published": "2026-09-06T13:00:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Doha News",
        "title": "Qatar PM-FM to visit China for talks on ties, regional security",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/qatar-pm-fm-to-visit-china-for-talks-on-ties-regional-security",
        "published": "2026-09-06T14:00:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "FO condemns mosque demolition in India's Uttar Pradesh, terms it part of 'drive to erase Islamic heritage'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/fo-condemns-mosque-demolition-in-indias-uttar-pradesh-terms-it-part-5997570",
        "published": "2026-09-06T14:45:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "As Yoga and Ayurveda become part of India’s global health diplomacy, experts press for credible standards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/as-yoga-and-ayurveda-become-part-of-indias-global-health-diplomacy",
        "published": "2026-09-06T14:49:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}