Hundreds of thousands of Muslims took to the streets on Saturday in Gandhi Maidan, located in Patna, the capital of India’s Bihar state, and across neighboring regions, in one of the largest mass protests against the 2025 Waqf Law, which protesters have described as a “legal tool to plunder Islamic waqf properties.”
The demonstration was sparked by what participants see as growing violations against mosques, cemeteries, and religious schools, as the law grants the government sweeping powers to take control of waqf assets, particularly in rural areas lacking old ownership documents.
Protesters held signs reading “Protect our Waqf” and “Stop the Demolitions”, and chanted against what they called a clampdown on their religious rights.
They expressed concern that the law threatens Islamic waqf properties across India — estimated to be worth $14.2 billion, with over 872,000 properties under waqf management.
Despite legal appeals filed with the Supreme Court, authorities have reportedly begun enforcing the law, leading to the demolition of several mosques and religious schools, according to activists.
The protest comes amid rising religious tensions in India, with Muslims accusing the government of adopting increasingly discriminatory policies against their community.
Source: Al Jazeera
