Police detain individual during Friday prayers amid rising tensions over religious expression in Uttar Pradesh.
The Uttar Pradesh Police detained a man outside a mosque in Saharanpur on Friday for displaying posters that read “I love Muhammad” during congregational prayers. This incident unfolded as the individual was holding two posters when police personnel apprehended him. Videos of the event were circulated on social media, prompting further scrutiny.
Senior Superintendent of Police Ashish Tiwari confirmed that the man was currently being questioned and that his social media accounts were under examination. Tiwari noted that in preparation for Friday prayers, foot patrols were initiated the previous night to enhance public safety. He emphasized the importance of coordination with local religious leaders, stating that discussions had taken place to ensure a peaceful atmosphere.
In the context of these events, approximately 1,500 police personnel were deployed to sensitive and crowded areas within Saharanpur to maintain order. Tiwari assured that the situation in the district remained peaceful despite the tensions surrounding religious expressions.
This detention is part of a broader issue that has seen a significant number of Muslims facing legal action across the country. According to a civil rights collective, at least 1,324 Muslims have been booked in 21 separate cases since a controversy erupted over similar banners at Muslim religious processions. Reports indicate that 38 individuals have been arrested in connection with these cases.
The controversy initially ignited on September 4 when a group of Muslims displayed an “I love Muhammad” banner during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. This act drew objections from Hindu groups, who claimed that it introduced a “new tradition” to the religious event. In response, the Kanpur Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dinesh Tripathi, stated that government regulations prevent the introduction of new customs into established religious processions.
Following the incident in Kanpur, police filed cases against 24 individuals on September 9, citing the introduction of new customs and disturbances to communal harmony. Of these, 15 individuals remained unidentified. The police clarified that no legal action was taken against the act of displaying the banner itself, but rather for relocating it to a new site and allegedly damaging other groups’ posters.
The police’s actions sparked protests and led to the display of “I love Muhammad” banners in various districts of Uttar Pradesh and beyond. These demonstrations sometimes resulted in clashes with law enforcement, which prompted the filing of additional cases. Notably, one case in Uttarakhand’s Kashipur named 401 accused individuals, with seven arrests made.
Nadeem Khan, the national secretary of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, criticized the targeting of individuals for expressing affection and respect for the Prophet, describing it as a severe infringement of fundamental rights. He argued that peaceful religious expression should never be subject to criminalization, highlighting the importance of protecting such freedoms in society.
