India’s Crackdown on “I Love Muhammad” Slogan Sparks Protests and National Debate on Religious Freedom
More than 2,500 people have been charged across India in what began as a police crackdown on the slogan “I Love Muhammad” — an expression of devotion to Prophet Muhammad that has now ignited widespread protests and a fierce debate over religious freedom in the country.
Over the past month, police in several states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have raided homes, detained Muslim men, and even demolished properties. What started as isolated arrests has snowballed into a national controversy, exposing growing tensions between India’s Hindu-majority government and its Muslim minority.
The Beginning: A Signboard in Kanpur
The controversy began on September 4 in Kanpur, a major city in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, when local Muslims erected a brightly lit sign reading “I Love Muhammad” during Eid al-Milad al-Nabi, a festival celebrating the Prophet’s birth.
Inspired by the iconic “I Love New York” logo, the sign quickly became a symbol of faith and pride for many Muslims. However, it also drew sharp objections from some local Hindu residents, who complained to authorities that the illuminated display was a “new addition” to religious festivities — something that is prohibited under state regulations in Uttar Pradesh.
Police responded swiftly, filing a case against two dozen people under laws that prohibit promoting “enmity between religious groups” — a charge that carries up to five years in prison. The move triggered outrage and condemnation from Muslim leaders, who called it an assault on freedom of expression and religion.
From Kanpur to Nationwide Protests
The Kanpur arrests sparked widespread demonstrations across India, stretching from Telangana in the south to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. Protesters held placards, wore t-shirts, and shared social media posts bearing the same phrase: “I Love Muhammad.”
In Bareilly, another city in Uttar Pradesh, protests turned violent on September 26, when supporters of local cleric Imam Tauqeer Raza clashed with police. Authorities later arrested the imam, his relatives, and several aides — bringing the total arrests in the region to more than 75. In the aftermath, at least four homes belonging to accused individuals were bulldozed by local authorities.
These demolitions, often carried out without prior notice or court orders, have become a controversial hallmark of law enforcement in BJP-ruled states, particularly when targeting Muslim communities. Although India’s Supreme Court has ruled that demolitions cannot be used as punishment, human rights groups say such orders are frequently ignored.
Meanwhile, arrests continued across the country, including in Modi’s home state of Gujarat, where police detained individuals for social media posts and videos featuring the “I Love Muhammad” slogan.
Is It Illegal to Say “I Love Muhammad”?
Under India’s constitution, every citizen has the right to freedom of religion (Article 25) and freedom of speech and expression (Article 19). These rights can only be restricted if the expression directly incites violence or hatred.
However, according to the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) — a nonprofit legal aid group tracking the arrests — police have relied on vague or unrelated provisions, such as those banning unlawful assemblies or acts “likely to provoke communal disharmony.”
Nadeem Khan, APCR’s national coordinator, said that while authorities claim to be maintaining public order, their actions criminalize peaceful expressions of faith.
“They know there is no law that bans saying ‘I Love Muhammad,’” Khan told Al Jazeera. “They are using legal loopholes to punish people for being vocal about their identity.”
He noted that religious imagery, such as Hindu deities holding weapons, is widespread across India. “If Muslims said such images offend them, would the government remove them? Of course not. The law must be applied equally,” Khan said.
Human Rights Concerns and International Criticism
The crackdown has drawn criticism from rights groups, including Amnesty International, which called the arrests and demolitions “a clear violation of India’s constitutional and international obligations.”
Aakar Patel, chair of Amnesty International India’s board, said the actions fail to meet the legal threshold for restricting free speech.
“Targeting people for peaceful slogans like ‘I Love Muhammad’ is unconstitutional and unlawful. Public order cannot be used as an excuse to suppress religious identity or expression,” Patel said.
“The role of the state is to safeguard rights equally — not to police belief.”
Since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, India has slipped on several global democracy and freedom indices, with watchdogs warning of growing intolerance and shrinking civic space. Critics say that the “I Love Muhammad” crackdown is part of a larger pattern of marginalization of Muslims under the BJP government.
A Pattern of Intolerance
Hate speech incidents targeting religious minorities have surged in recent years. Official data shows that documented hate speech cases rose from 668 in 2023 to 1,165 in 2024 — a staggering 74% increase. Most occurred in BJP-ruled states or regions heading into elections.
Political analyst Asim Ali argues that local disputes involving Muslims are often amplified into national controversies.
“There’s a well-oiled ecosystem — from partisan media outlets to social media networks — that fuels outrage and polarizes communities,” he said. “Any public expression of Muslim identity can now be interpreted as a threat.”
In a provocative response to the controversy, BJP members in Varanasi, Modi’s own parliamentary constituency, put up posters reading “I Love Bulldozer” — a mocking reference to the demolition of Muslim homes in Uttar Pradesh.
The Impact on Young Muslims
The ongoing crackdown has particularly shaken young Indian Muslims, many of whom say they feel singled out and alienated. According to APCR, several of those arrested are students and young professionals targeted for social media posts.
Political analyst Rasheed Kidwai said the “I Love Muhammad” controversy is “more political than religious”, arguing that it reflects growing frustration among India’s Muslim youth.
“They see one set of rules for themselves and another for everyone else,” Kidwai said. “The anger is not just about faith — it’s about inequality and discrimination.”
Asim Ali warns that this sustained campaign risks deepening social divides:
“In today’s India, being visibly Muslim can itself be grounds for suspicion. The tempo of hate is rising day by day, and the space for peaceful religious expression is rapidly shrinking.”
A Nation at a Crossroads
India’s 2.2 billion-strong democracy is once again being tested — between its constitutional promise of equality and the political realities of majoritarian power.
While thousands rally under the banner of “I Love Muhammad,” the message from rights advocates is clear: protecting freedom of belief is not just a matter of faith — it’s a test of democracy itself.