#weaponizedhistory

On November 24, 2024, violence erupted during a court-ordered Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the 500-year-old Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The mosque, protected by the ASI as a heritage site, became the center of controversy following claims that it was constructed on the ruins of a Hindu temple allegedly demolished during the Mughal period. The survey, framed as a historical investigation, was seen by many as part of a broader campaign targeting minority places of worship. Learn More