Police in the Indian city of Kanpur have filed a case against dozens of Muslims after “I love Muhammad” boards were erected in a neighbourhood where Hindu religious processions usually pass.
On September 9, police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against nine named men and 15 unnamed residents in the Syed Nagar area of Kanpur city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Those charged include Sharafat Hussain, Babu Ali, Mohammad Siraj, Rahman, Ikram Ahmed, Iqbal, Bunty, Kunnu “Kabadi,” Sahnoor Alam, and two vehicle drivers. CCTV footage is said to confirm their involvement is raising the boards.
The complaint was lodged by Sub-Inspector Pankaj Sharma and registered at Rawatpur police station. Station House Officer K. K. Mishra accused the group of acting “deliberately” to disrupt communal harmony.
Police say the boards and a tent were set up on a public road near a gate used annually by the Ram Navami procession. Hindu groups objected to the displays, calling them provocative.
Authorities claim they attempted to persuade those responsible to remove the boards voluntarily, and even involved local Muslim clerics for mediation. After those efforts failed, police removed the structures themselves.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Dinesh Tripathi said: “No new trend on public roads can be permitted. This was a threat to communal peace, and nobody involved will be spared.”
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Criticism
The move has drawn criticism from Muslim leaders and civil society groups in India.
Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), condemned the FIR and defended the boards as an expression of devotion to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
On X (formerly Twitter), he posted a verse by the famous Muslim thinker and poet Allama Iqbal: “Loving the Prophet ﷺ is no crime. If it is, then I accept every punishment for it.”
Rights activists have accused authorities of disproportionately targeting Muslims for religious displays in public, while Hindu groups are given greater leeway.
Uttar Pradesh has frequently witnessed communal clashes during religious festivals such as Ram Navami and Milad un Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s birthday).
Media reports suggest that members of a Hindu nationalist organisation broke one of the boards before the police registered the FIR. Despite this, over 25 Muslims were booked, with many listed as unnamed accused.
Critics argue that such cases contribute to a growing climate of fear among religious minorities, where even peaceful expressions of faith are criminalised.
