India detains Iranian tourists for praying at temple near Taj Mahal

Indian police in Agra detained Iranian tourists on Sunday after they allegedly performed Islamic prayers near a temple at the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal, sparking protests from local Hindus.

The incident escalated when locals noticed the Iranian couple praying and began heckling them. According to reports, some began harassing the couple, demanding to see their passports and questioning their motives for praying in a public place.

“The Iranian national inadvertently went inside the temple premises to offer ‘namaz’,” explained Assistant Commissioner of Police Syed Areeb Ahmad. “All three members of the family are said to be professors at an Iranian university. None were aware it was a temple.”

#Agra, UP: Iranian tourists were heckled by hindutva goons when they mistakenly offered Namaz in a shrine near east gate of Taj Mahal in Agra, UP on Sunday.

Police had detained the tourist couple and made them to write an apology letter before letting them go.

The Iranian… pic.twitter.com/YeBIkwNO4c

— Saba Khan (@ItsKhan_Saba) November 4, 2024

In a video apology, the tourists, a man with his wife and daughter, explained that they had been looking for a place to pray and found the temple area, which appeared clean and empty at the time. They stated that they had no intention of causing offence.

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The Indian authorities are investigating whether temple rules were breached during the incident. The police acknowledged the tourists’ apology, noting their apparent lack of intent to offend, and have given assurances that an appropriate investigation will follow.

The Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the most iconic monuments in India, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz. The name “Taj Mahal” has Persian origins, with “Taj” meaning “crown” and “Mahal” referring to a palace.

The Mughal dynasty, which ruled much of the Indian subcontinent and used Persian as the official language of the court, was known for blending Persian, Indian and Islamic architectural styles.

Hindu nationalists in India have increasingly contested the heritage of Muslim sites, including the Taj Mahal, which has become a subject of controversy. Some groups have claimed, albeit on weak and flimsy grounds, that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple and have pushed for its reclassification.

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