Land surrounding a Shiva temple taken over by Muslims in Pakistan
Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan 
3 February, 2025
Case Summary
In Tando Jam Musa Kattian in Hyderabad, Pakistan, the land surrounding an ancient Shiva temple was taken over by influential Muslim locals of the locality. The local Hindu community reached out to Shiva Kacchi, the chairman and founder of the Minority Rights Organisation in Pakistan. He shared this incident on his X handle and requested the Chief Minister of Sindh and other authorities to protect the religious rights of the minority Hindu community in Pakistan. Hindu minorities in Pakistan face persistent persecution, marked by systemic discrimination, violence, and forced conversions. Hindus, particularly women and young girls, are often abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to Muslim men with little to no legal recourse. Temples are frequently vandalised or destroyed, and Hindu communities are subjected to social and economic marginalisation. Blasphemy laws are disproportionately used against Hindus, leading to false accusations and severe punishments. Many Hindu families are forced to flee their homes due to religious intolerance, living in constant fear of attacks. This sustained persecution highlights the dire conditions for Hindus in Pakistan, where their religious identity makes them targets of oppression.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker as a religiously motivated hate crime under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representation and under this, the sub-category selected is- Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near temple. 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. Not only the Temple but the Temple premises in its entirety are considered sacred by Hindus. In several cases, the premises of the Temple and/or religious centre are illicitly taken over by institutions belonging to other faiths – like the Waqf board or the Church. Other times, the temple property, land or the property of religious centres are illicitly encroached by non-Hindu groups. Any illicit take over or encroachment is a crime an initio, however, when non-Hindu groups illicitly take over or encroach the sacred land of Hindus, it is an affront to the Hindu community and is therefore classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. This case has been included in the tracker as an instance of religiously motivated persecution, where Hindu religious representation has been targeted. The encroachment of land surrounding an ancient Shiva temple by influential Muslim locals signifies a deliberate attempt to undermine Hindu religious spaces. Such actions not only strip Hindus of their places of worship but also contribute to a broader pattern of intimidation, aiming to weaken their presence in the region. The lack of intervention from authorities further highlights the systemic discrimination against Hindus, reinforcing their vulnerability in Pakistan.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
