Members of the Muslim community represent a demonstration on the question of posters “I love Muhammad” in Thane, Maharashtra, Friday 26 September 2025. Photo Credit: PTI
The petition was moved in front of the High Court in Delhi, which questioned several firs and arrests in connection with posters carrying the words “I love Muhammad”, which the petitioners described as “manifestations of devotion”.
The application submitted by Shujaat Ali, representative of Raza Academy and the National President of the Indian Organization of Muslim Students, claimed that companies were “municipal nature” and violated their “fundamental rights”.
He argued that the cases were registered in several places, including Kaiserganj and Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, against “ordinary citizens of Muslim communities who only tried to celebrate their religious festivals and express their devotion to God by posters, banners and peace rallys”.
“The petitioners are not the usual perpetrators; they are peaceful citizens who exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to celebrate their faith in the way he chose. Criminalizing such behavior on municipal lines not only violates fundamental rights but also threatens the municipal harmony and public order.”
The petition further stated that: “Without any serious or independent evidence, more criminal cases were framed by members of the majority community who have equalized the accusations of riots, intimidate the crime and violate peace against them.”
He argued that FIRS “seemed to have been filed with the only subject of criminalization of a religious statement of a minority group”.
The controversy dates back to 9 September 2025, when the police in Kanpuru filed companies against nine and 15 unidentified persons for alleged installation of albums with “I Love Muhammad” written on them on the public road during the Barawafat procession.
Published – 27 September 2025 20:00
