‘I Love Muhammad’ Banners Spark Crackdown in India: Hundreds of Muslims Face Police Cases in BJP-Ruled States
Lucknow, India — What began as a simple display of devotion — an illuminated banner reading “I Love Muhammad” — has escalated into a wave of police cases and arrests across several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous region.
Hundreds of Muslims now face charges under laws related to promoting enmity between communities and disturbing public order, in what rights advocates describe as another instance of growing religious intolerance in the country.
A Peaceful Celebration Turns Into a Police Case
On the evening of September 4, residents of Syed Nagar, a predominantly Muslim neighborhood in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, put up a bright signboard that read “I ❤️ Muhammad.”
The gesture was part of Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations — an annual observance marking the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, celebrated by millions of Muslims across South Asia and beyond.
The festivities typically include religious gatherings, Quran recitations, sermons, and processions featuring banners and flags expressing love for the Prophet. But in Kanpur, what began as a festive display quickly drew controversy.
Shortly after the signboard was illuminated, a group of Hindu men objected to its placement. The men, reportedly affiliated with a local religious organization, claimed the banner had been put up at a site traditionally used by Hindus during their Ram Navami festival.
Police were soon called in, and after hours of tense arguments, the authorities ordered the signboard’s removal. Later that night, the situation escalated as police filed criminal charges against nine Muslim men and 15 unidentified individuals.
The charges included “promoting enmity between religious groups” and “deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.” While no arrests were made immediately, the incident set off a chain reaction that would reverberate across the state.
‘We Had Permission,’ Say Local Muslims
Muslim residents of Syed Nagar insist that their actions were peaceful and fully permitted.
“We had official permission for the decorations,” said one 28-year-old resident, who was among those charged but declined to give his name for fear of reprisal. “We celebrate the Prophet’s birthday here every year. Everyone has the constitutional right to practice their religion.”
However, Hindu residents argued that the location of the banner was the issue — not its message.
Mohit Bajpayee, a member of a local Hindu organization, the Sri Ramnavmi Samiti, told Al Jazeera, “I have no objection to the words ‘I love Muhammad.’ But the signboard was placed at a site used for our festival decorations. Everyone has the right to worship, but new traditions shouldn’t be started in new places.”
M.A. Khan, the lawyer representing the accused, said that police also accused some Muslims of tearing down a Hindu banner during the Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession. “Many of those named weren’t even present,” he said, calling the charges “fabricated and politically motivated.”
Uttar Pradesh: A State Under Watch
Uttar Pradesh, home to around 38 million Muslims — nearly 20% of its population — has become a flashpoint for religious tensions in recent years.
Since 2017, the state has been governed by Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu monk-turned-politician and a prominent figure in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP. Known for his fiery speeches and hardline Hindu nationalist stance, Adityanath has been frequently accused of targeting Muslims through policy and policing.
Human rights organizations have documented multiple cases of demolitions, arrests, and public humiliation of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh under the pretext of maintaining “law and order.” The Kanpur incident, they argue, fits that pattern.
From Kanpur to Bareilly: Protests Spread
Just days after the Kanpur controversy, the tension spread to Bareilly, another Uttar Pradesh city — and the spiritual headquarters of the Barelvi sect, a Sunni Muslim movement with millions of followers worldwide.
On September 10, local police in Bareilly filed an FIR (First Information Report) against nine Muslims, including a prominent religious scholar, accusing them of “disturbing communal harmony” and introducing a “new tradition” by displaying the “I Love Muhammad” message publicly.
In response, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, a respected cleric and head of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), called for a peaceful protest on September 26 to condemn what he called “religious discrimination.”
Authorities denied permission for the rally, citing security concerns. The IMC later issued a statement urging people not to gather — but a misleading social media post circulated claiming that the statement was fake, prompting confusion and anger.
Protests Erupt, Police Respond With Force
On September 26, thousands of Muslims gathered near a historic shrine in Bareilly after Friday prayers, holding placards reading “I Love Muhammad” and chanting slogans against the police crackdown in Kanpur and Bareilly.
Officials alleged that the demonstration was unauthorized, claiming some participants threw stones and damaged public property. Police responded with a lathi charge (baton attack), dispersing crowds and arresting dozens of protesters, including Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan.
The district administration also suspended internet services across Bareilly to prevent further mobilization and unrest.
In a video message recorded before his arrest, Maulana Khan said the protests were being misrepresented as violent and accused the government of “suppressing peaceful expressions of faith.”
“Attempts to silence our religious sentiments will only deepen resentment,” he warned.
Yogi Adityanath’s Response: A Warning
A day after the Bareilly clashes, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the unrest during a public event in Lucknow. Without naming Maulana Khan directly, he referred to the incident as “a well-orchestrated attempt to disrupt social harmony.”
Speaking in Hindi, Adityanath remarked, “Sometimes people cannot abandon bad habits easily. For that, some denting and painting is required. You saw that in Bareilly yesterday. A maulana forgot who is in power.”
The Chief Minister’s comments drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders and rights activists, who accused him of mocking the use of police violence and normalizing religious persecution.
Within 24 hours of his statement, authorities bulldozed a banquet hall allegedly owned by one of the accused Muslims in Bareilly — a now-common tactic under Adityanath’s administration to punish alleged offenders before trial.
Growing Fears Among India’s Muslim Community
The crackdown over what many Muslims see as a harmless religious expression has deepened fears about shrinking space for minority rights in India.
Legal experts argue that the actions of the police — filing FIRs and demolishing property without due process — are part of a broader trend of criminalizing Muslim identity and practices under BJP-led state governments.
Afsar Javed, a political analyst in Lucknow, said: “What is happening is not about a banner — it’s about control. The message is clear: public displays of Muslim identity are increasingly seen as defiance.”
Meanwhile, members of the Hindu nationalist organizations defend the police response, saying that the administration is maintaining “law and order.”
However, for ordinary Muslims in places like Kanpur and Bareilly, the sense of insecurity continues to grow. “We only wanted to express love for our Prophet,” said one local resident. “Now, we are treated like criminals for it.”
A Pattern of Targeted Policing
The “bulldozer justice” approach — where properties of accused individuals are demolished without court approval — has become a hallmark of governance in Uttar Pradesh. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly condemned such measures as collective punishment and extrajudicial retaliation.
Political observers warn that such incidents could further polarize communities ahead of upcoming state and national elections, with religion once again taking center stage in Indian politics.
Conclusion: Faith, Fear, and Freedom
The “I Love Muhammad” controversy has grown into a symbolic flashpoint in India’s ongoing struggle over religious freedom and national identity.
What began as a heartfelt tribute to the Prophet has now become a test case for the limits of free expression in an increasingly divided nation.
As bulldozers roll and arrests continue, India’s 200 million Muslims face a troubling question: Can faith still be expressed publicly without fear?