Survey begins to verify Babri mosque site claims

By: Irfan Malik

AYODHYA, India: A ground x-ray survey began at Ayodhya in northern India where hardline Hindus want to build a temple over a razed mosque, reports said on Friday.

The survey aimed at verifying Hindu claims that the Babri mosque had been built over an ancient temple was ordered by a court, which is trying to determine whether Hindus or Muslims can claim ownership of the site.

The Babri mosque in Ayodhya was demolished in December 1992 by Hindus who believe that Mughul king Babar built the 16th century mosque by razing a tomb marking the birthplace of mythological Hindu king Lord Rama.

Tearing down the mosque sparked riots in the country that resulted in the deaths of 2,000 people, mostly Muslims.

Right-wing Hindu organizations want to build a temple on the site and have already constructed a makeshift temple there. Muslims want to rebuild the mosque and the matter is now before the courts.

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Muslim graves defaced in Austria

By: Raza Ali

VIENNA, Austria: Vandals have defaced about forty graves of Muslims in northern Austria, police said Thursday.

According to police the Muslim graves in a cemetery in Linz were defaced in late December, and investigations are underway to find the vandals responsible.

Platform Islam, the pro-Islam group, said gravestones were broken and pulled out of the ground in a second act of vandalism within several months.

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Islamic civilization museum to built in Egypt

By: Sultan Ahmed

CAIRO, Egypt: The foundation stone of the first Museum of Islamic Civilization would be laid in the Old City of Cairo known as Fustat in the next few days of January.

Egypt’s Cultural Ministry will hold the ceremony that is expected to be graced by prominent guests including Egypt’s First Lady Suzanne Mubarak, the Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni, the Minister of Endowments besides several Egyptian and Muslim archeologists.

It is estimated that construction of the museum would cost something in the region of EP 25,000,000. The cost will, however, be met by the Heritage Fund and not the Egyptian Government.

This UNESCO project is expected to be completed in three years.

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