Contrary to initial expectations, India's Muslims did not react violently to a landmark court ruling dividing a contested religious site between Hindus and Muslims, because they feared they would come off worst in any sectarian riots, analysts say.
Muslims were disappointed that the Allahabad High Court on Thursday allotted two-thirds of the disputed site of a 16th century mosque in the north Indian Hindu holy town of Ayodhya to Hindu litigants, but fears of a sectarian backlash soon faded.
'Muslims felt cheated and disappointed by the court,' said Aziz Mubarki, secretary of South Asia Ulema [Muslim clergy] Council.
'Hindus, including their leaders, celebrated the verdict as their victory. Yet the Muslims have controlled their anger and remained calm.'
In 1992 the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya by Hindu mobs triggered nationwide riots between Hindus and Muslims that killed more than 2,000 people, mostly Muslims. Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002 - in which about 2,000 people, again mostly Muslims, are believed to have died - could also be traced to the Ayodhya mosque row.
There were fears that anger within either community over Thursday's ruling could have led to new bloodshed. But analysts and activists said the minority Muslims had learned from past experience that they were more vulnerable and would suffer badly in the event of any riots.