Protests against the publishing of the images erupted in various parts of the old city of Hyderabad on Sunday evening
Team Clarion
HYDERABAD – The Kalapathar police in Hyderabad in Telangana have registered a case against a publisher for objectionable representation of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a Class IV textbook.
Amigos Books International Pvt. Ltd. was on Monday charged with hurting the religious sentiments of a community by publishing the image of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
“Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is highly revered and holds the utmost significance in Islam. The image or portrayal of the Prophet in any form is strictly forbidden as it goes against the principles and values of our community,” a complaint filed by a social activist said.
Mohd. Asif’s complaint claimed that the image undermines religious beliefs and hurts sentiments, media reports said on Tuesday.
The complaint further said that the textbooks are being sold at a private school as part of their second-semester curriculum.
Based on the complaint, the Kalapathar police booked a case under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and took up investigation.
Meanwhile, Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson of Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT), also wrote a letter to Education Minister Sabitha Indira Reddy seeking action against the publisher, printer, school management and others responsible for the incident.
Earlier on Sunday night, protests erupted in various parts of the old city including Kalapathar. The protesters objected saying there was no image of the Prophet in the history of Islam, and that depicting such images was not acceptable and hurt their religious sentiments.