An Indian court on Wednesday acquitted top ruling party leaders of conspiracy related to the mob demolition of a mosque decades ago that sparked communal riots which left more than 2,000 dead.
Tens of thousands of supporters of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other Hindu groups, armed with pick-axes and spades, tore down the 16th-century Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992, to pave the way for a temple.
Many Hindus say the small patch of land where it stood is the birthplace of their revered god Ram, and the site has become a symbol of India's Hindu-Muslim divide.
The mob was allegedly led by top BJP leaders, including India's former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani, former party president Murli Manohar Joshi, and Uma Bharti.
They were later accused of conspiring to destroy the mosque, with more than 30 BJP leaders facing charges of criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity and inciting the mob.
But a special court sitting in the northern city of Lucknow said on Wednesday the prosecution had failed to prove their guilt.
"Anti-social elements brought down the structure. The accused leaders tried to stop these people," the judge said as he announced the verdict.
"The audio of the speeches were also not clear. All accused are acquitted."
Seventeen accused died during the case and trial, which spanned nearly three decades.
Devout Hindus believe Lord Ram, the warrior god, was born in Ayodhya some 7,000 years ago but that the mosque – built during the time of Mughal ruler Babar – was constructed on top of his birthplace.
In the late 1980s, the BJP – currently led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi – launched a nationwide campaign to garner support for the construction of a temple for Lord Ram.
Mr Advani, now 92, led tens of thousands of supporters on a months-long street agitation across the country before the mob targeted the mosque.
The razing of the religious structure sparked India's worst sectarian riots and a protracted court case over the site.
Last year the Supreme Court awarded the land to a trust, clearing the way for the construction of a temple – a key victory for Mr Modi and BJP supporters.
Mr Modi, once a close confidant of Mr Advani, laid the foundation stone for the temple in August. The building of the temple was central to the platform of the BJP and the party's electoral fortunes rose following the agitation.
The top court had termed the demolition "unlawful", years after it upheld that the accused should be tried for conspiracy.
Mr Advani, who watched the judgement via video link, previously termed the demolition the "saddest day of his life".
But on Wednesday, the nonagenarian "wholeheartedly welcomed" the ruling, declaring "Jai Sri Ram (Hail Lord Ram)".
"The judgement vindicates my personal and BJP's belief and commitment toward the Ram Janmabhoomi movement (Ram temple construction movement)," he told reporters.
Opposition parties and Muslim groups criticised the acquittals.
The main opposition Congress party said the judgement was contrary to the Supreme Court's earlier stance and that the BJP had planned to "destroy the country's communal amity".
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which represents Muslim social and political groups, said it would challenge the acquittal in a higher court, calling it "far from justice".
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The lowdown
Rating: 4/5
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
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Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
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Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
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Plastic tipping points
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Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim
Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
Current staff: more than 160 employees
Stage: series D
Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India
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Defence review at a glance
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Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
Based: Manama, Bahrain
Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($100,000)
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From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
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Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
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Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
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2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
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Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
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