Lawyer for Muslim community says he will appeal Indian court ruling on Ayodhya holy site

Lawyer to appeal court ruling on Indian holy site

LUCKNOW, India — A lawyer for the Muslim community says he will appeal an Indian court ruling that would divide a disputed holy site between the Hindu and Muslim communities.

Conflict over the site in Ayodhya has sparked bloody communal riots across the country in the past.

Zaffaryab Jilani said Thursday the verdict was “a step forward” but he would appeal to the Supreme Court.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — An Indian court ruled Thursday that a disputed holy site that has sparked bloody communal riots across the country in the past should be divided between the Hindu and Muslim communities, a lawyer involved in the suit said.

Muslims revere the compound in Ayodhya as the site of the now-demolished 16th century Babri Mosque, while Hindus say it is the birthplace of the god Rama.

The Allahabad High Court ruled that the site should be split, with the Muslim community getting control of one-third and two Hindu groups splitting the remainder, according to Ravi Shankar Prasad, a lawyer for one of the parties to the suit.

The Hindus will keep the area where a small tent-shrine to Rama has been erected, he said.

“The majority ruled that the location of the makeshift temple is the birthplace of Rama, and this spot cannot be shifted,” he said.

The court also ruled that the current status of the site should continue for the next three months to allow for the land to be peacefully measured and divided, he said.