In Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, nearly 200 Muslim residents have faced legal action following their protests against a derogatory social media post targeting Prophet Muhammad. The protests emerged in response to a Facebook post by Krishna Keshav Dixit, a self-identified journalist, who made insulting remarks about the Prophet and the Quran on September 12.
Local sources indicate that the protests, which aimed to hold accountable those spreading communal hate, were largely peaceful. Residents expressed frustration over the police’s decision to file charges against the protesters instead of addressing their grievances. “Instead of addressing the grievance, Shahjahanpur police lodged FIRs against the protestors, branding the demonstrations as a law and order issue,” stated a resident who chose to remain anonymous.
The police swiftly arrested Dixit on September 12 and registered a case against him under sections 295A and 153A of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relate to inciting religious outrage and wounding religious feelings. Following this, members of the Muslim community submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, urging that Dixit be charged under the National Security Act.
In a counter-response, members of Hindutva groups protested against Dixit’s arrest and filed complaints against the Muslim demonstrators. As a result, the police registered cases against approximately 200 residents for their protest activities under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1932.
Shahjahanpur’s Superintendent of Police emphasized the importance of maintaining communal harmony and stated that a monitoring team has been identifying individuals who shared the derogatory content.
Community leaders and rights advocates argue that this incident reflects a broader trend in Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims expressing dissent against hate speech or violence are increasingly facing criminal charges, while those inciting such sentiments remain unpunished. A resident noted, “The real culprits are those who insulted our Prophet, but the police have chosen to punish those who sought justice.”
In related incidents earlier in September, Kanpur police filed charges against 25 Muslims after a signboard reading “I love Mohammed” was vandalized, while Firozabad authorities arrested 30 youths for perceived violations during a procession for Eid Milad-un-Nabi.
Nadeem Khan, a human rights activist and National Secretary of the Association of Civil Rights, described this situation as part of a dangerous pattern in Uttar Pradesh, where victims are often criminalized while real offenders escape accountability. “This has now become a larger trend where police, particularly in UP, have booked Muslims for crimes that were actually committed against them,” he stated.
Tags: Shahjahanpur protest, derogatory post, Prophet Muhammad, police action, communal tension
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