Civil rights group reports on police action and community impact after ‘I Love Muhammad’ protests.
The Association for Protection of Civil Rights has reported significant police action against Muslims in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, following a controversy over banners that read “I Love Muhammad”. According to the group’s findings, as of October 7, a total of 4,505 individuals have been booked, with 265 arrests made across 23 cities. This response came after the initial unrest sparked by a procession held on September 4 in Kanpur, where a group of Muslims displayed the banners during Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi celebrations.
The police intervened after Hindu groups raised objections, arguing that the display of the banners introduced a new tradition that was not in line with established customs for the procession. Subsequently, on September 9, the police initiated legal action against 24 individuals for allegedly disturbing communal harmony. The situation escalated, leading to protests in various districts, during which clashes with police occurred.
The civil rights group’s report detailed that 45 first information reports (FIRs) were filed within a month, highlighting what they described as disproportionate police action. In Bareilly alone, 89 individuals were arrested by October 8. The unrest on September 26 in Bareilly is noted to have followed the cancellation of a protest that was organized by local cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan, who claimed he was denied permission by authorities.
The police accused Raza of inciting the crowd through provocative speeches, leading to his arrest on September 27. The Association for Protection of Civil Rights conducted a fact-finding mission to gather testimonies from affected individuals, lawyers, and relatives of those detained, alongside reviewing legal documents and media reports.
In their findings, the civil rights group criticized the police response to the protests, asserting that it involved excessive force, arbitrary mass arrests, and property seizures without due process. The report stated that properties associated with individuals accused of participating in the unrest were demolished, raising further concerns about the legality of these actions.
The report also claimed that the FIRs filed in Bareilly depicted a peaceful gathering as an unlawful assembly, with many community members, including Raza, being named repeatedly. This broad categorization, according to the report, conflates peaceful demonstrators with those allegedly involved in violence, undermining constitutional protections for free expression.
Furthermore, the group alleged that standard legal procedures were bypassed, resulting in violations of human rights and increased scrutiny of the Muslim community in Bareilly. The report highlighted the social and economic ramifications, including business losses and heightened intimidation within the community.
To address these concerns, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights has called on the state government to facilitate dialogue between local authorities and the Muslim community. They urged the establishment of a committee to investigate the police actions against peaceful protesters and recommended that the National Human Rights Commission look into the reported violations during crowd control and arrests. Additionally, the report suggested that disciplinary measures be taken against police personnel accused of using excessive force and making unlawful arrests.
