A significant petition has been lodged with the Delhi High Court, aiming to overturn numerous First Information Reports (FIRs) and subsequent arrests concerning individuals displaying posters inscribed with “I Love Muhammad.” Those who filed the petition assert that these posters are simply expressions of profound religious devotion.
The legal challenge was initiated by Shujaat Ali, who serves as a key figure for Raza Academy and the National President of the Muslim Students Organisation of India. He contends that the FIRs are inherently “communal” and represent a direct infringement upon the fundamental rights of the individuals involved.
The petition specifically highlights that these charges were brought against “ordinary citizens” in various locations, notably Kaiserganj and Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh. These citizens, primarily from the Muslim community, were simply engaging in their constitutional right to celebrate religious festivals and articulate their faith through peaceful assemblies, posters, and banners.
The petitioners emphatically stated that they are “not habitual offenders” but rather peace-loving citizens who were merely exercising their constitutionally protected right to observe their faith as they choose. The plea argues that criminalizing such religious expression, particularly along communal lines, not only violates fundamental rights but also poses a severe threat to both communal harmony and public order.
Furthermore, the petition asserts that these individuals have been unfairly implicated in multiple criminal cases by members of the majority community. This, it alleges, occurred “without any cogent or independent evidence,” and involved baseless accusations of rioting, criminal intimidation, and disturbing the peace.
The petitioners contend that the primary intent behind filing these FIRs was to “criminalize the religious expression of a minority group.”
The core of this legal dispute traces back to September 9, 2025. On this date, police in Kanpur registered an FIR against nine identified individuals and fifteen unnamed persons. The accusation against them was the installation of “I Love Muhammad” boards on a public road during a Barawafat procession, igniting the ongoing controversy.