Police in the Indian city of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have filed a case against dozens of Muslims after banners reading “I Love Muhammad ﷺ” were erected in a neighbourhood regularly used for Hindu religious processions. The move has sparked outrage among Muslim leaders and rights groups, who denounced it as another act of state-backed Islamophobia.
Criminalising Love for the Prophet ﷺ
On September 9, authorities registered a First Information Report (FIR) against nine named Muslims and at least 15 unnamed residents of the Syed Nagar area. Those accused include Sharafat Hussain, Babu Ali, Mohammad Siraj, Rahman, Ikram Ahmed, Iqbal, Bunty, Kunnu “Kabadi,” Sahnoor Alam, and two vehicle drivers. Police claim CCTV footage confirmed their involvement in raising the devotional boards.
The complaint, filed by Sub-Inspector Pankaj Sharma at Rawatpur police station, accused the men of acting “deliberately” to disrupt communal harmony. Station House Officer K. K. Mishra alleged the banners and a tent erected on a public road were intended to provoke Hindu groups, since the area is used for Ram Navami processions.
Police said attempts were made to persuade residents to remove the signs voluntarily, including involving local Muslim clerics. When the boards were not taken down, authorities forcibly removed them. Deputy Commissioner of Police Dinesh Tripathi claimed:
“No new trend on public roads can be permitted. This was a threat to communal peace, and nobody involved will be spared.”
Selective Enforcement and Double Standards
The crackdown has been strongly criticised for its selective targeting of Muslims. Rights activists and community leaders argue that Hindu nationalist groups are routinely allowed to conduct public displays without restriction, while Muslim religious expression is criminalised.
Reports indicate that members of a Hindu nationalist organisation broke one of the boards even before police registered the FIR. Despite this provocation, no action was taken against the perpetrators. Instead, over 25 Muslims were booked — many listed as unnamed accused.
Critics warn that such measures contribute to a climate of fear among India’s religious minorities, where even peaceful expressions of love for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are painted as a threat.
Muslim Leaders Respond
Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), condemned the FIR and defended the banners as an expression of devotion. On X (formerly Twitter), he invoked the words of Allama Iqbal, the celebrated Muslim poet and philosopher:
“Loving the Prophet ﷺ is no crime. If it is, then I accept every punishment for it.”
His statement resonated widely, reminding Muslims of their sacred duty to uphold love and reverence for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ regardless of state pressure or intimidation.
A Growing Pattern of Persecution
Uttar Pradesh has been a flashpoint for communal tensions during religious festivals such as Ram Navami and Milad un Nabi (the Prophet’s birthday). Under the rule of Hindu nationalist authorities, Muslims face growing restrictions, arbitrary FIRs, and targeted harassment.
Civil society groups stress that the Kanpur incident is part of a broader campaign to marginalise Muslims, silence their voices, and gradually erode their right to public religious expression.
For millions of Muslims worldwide, however, the message remains clear: love for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ cannot be silenced by fear, force, or fabricated charges.
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