Muslim mob in Pakistan demolish and desecrate an under construction temple of Hinglaj Mata
Mithi, Sindh, Pakistan 
22 January, 2022
Case Summary
On January 23, Islamist radicals in Pakistan demolished the construction of Hinglaj Mata Mandir in the Tharparker district of Sindh province. Local residents protested, fearing the loss of Hindu culture. The Pakistan Hindu Mandir management condemned the attack, stating that radicals showed no fear of the Pakistan Supreme Court or government. Hinglaj Mata, a revered goddess for Hindus, has faced repeated assaults. In 2012, Islamists kidnapped the temple committee chairman before the annual Hinglaj Yatra. In 2020, during Navratri, miscreants damaged the idol’s head and face of Her Vaahan, adding to the ongoing challenges of preserving Hindu heritage in Pakistan. In 2021, the Pakistan Supreme Court criticized authorities for failing to prevent the demolition of another Hindu temple in Rahimyar Khan district, highlighting the vulnerability of Hindu sites. A report by Pakistan’s minorities’ rights commission revealed the poor condition of Hindu temples, blaming the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) for neglect. Out of 365 temples, only 13 were managed by the board, with most abandoned or left to the Hindu community.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the hate tracker under the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious symbols. Under this, the sub-category chosen is- Attack on Temples. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The repeated attacks on the Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Pakistan’s Sindh province, including its demolition by Islamist radicals, clearly reflect a hate crime rooted in deep-seated animosity towards Hindus and their faith. These assaults, which have targeted one of the most revered Hindu temples in Pakistan, are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of religious intolerance and persecution of Hindus in Muslim majority Pakistan. The frequent vandalism of the temple, along with the kidnapping of temple officials and desecration of idols, reveals an attempt to erase Hindu cultural and religious heritage in Pakistan, where the persecution of Hindus is a longstanding and pervasive issue, marked by discrimination, violence, and systemic marginalization. As a religious minority in a predominantly Muslim country, Hindus face various forms of oppression, including forced conversions, abductions of Hindu girls, desecration of temples, and targeted violence. The destruction and vandalism of Hindu places of worship, like the repeated attacks on the Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Sindh, highlight the deep-rooted animosity towards Hindus and their religious symbols. As such, this case has been added to the hate tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
