Mazar Jihad is a conspiracy theory alleging that Muslims illegally erect mazars (shrines) on public land to alter the local religious demographic composition.
Background and Context
The notion of Mazar Jihad has gained traction over the last decade, most vocally championed by BJP leader and Uttarakhand state chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. For centuries, mazars (shrines built over Sufi saints’ graves) have been woven into India’s religious and cultural heritage.
Hindu nationalist groups and leaders cast mazars as illegal encroachments designed to stake Muslim territorial claims over public and Hindu-owned land. This narrative is frequently invoked to justify government-backed demolition drives against the religious and cultural structures, framing these sites as unlawful and illegitimate. In practice, however, such teardowns are typically politically motivated and disproportionately target Muslim religious structures.
Impact and Harm
The theory casts every Muslim religious structure as a potential land grab, fueling fear and suspicion of shrines and mosques alike. The branding of these sites as unlawful encroachments legitimizes discriminatory state actions, including targeted demolitions, denial of permits, and arbitrary seizures of Muslim places of worship.
Variants and Alternative Forms
मजार जिहाद Land Jihad
Online Usage
