Shahar-e-Qazi of Kanpur Mufti Muhammad Yunus Raza condemns the police action against Muslim youths, saying it misuses legal powers and erodes public trust
KANPUR — A controversy has erupted in the city after the registration of an FIR against 25 Muslim youths for the ‘I Love Muhammad’ signboard in Syed Nagar during the celebration of Eid Milad-un Nabi. The Shahar-e-Qazi, Mufti Muhammad Yunus Raza, has strongly condemned the move, calling it a misuse of legal powers and an attack on the constitutional rights of Muslim citizens.
Speaking to the media, Mufti Raza said, “What crime can it be to write ‘I Love Muhammad”? This is nothing but an expression of love for the last Prophet of Islam.
He described the police action as a threat to democratic values and a violation of the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of India. “Registering a case against Muslim youths for expressing love towards Prophet Muhammad is not only baseless, but it is also weakening the trust of people in the police and administration,” he stated.
Mufti Raza stressed that writing ‘I Love Muhammad’ cannot hurt the religious sentiments of any other community. “This phrase does not insult any religion or belief. It is simply an expression of devotion. Treating it as a crime is unjust and illogical,” he said.
He further responded to questions about the use of language, saying that names and messages can be written in Urdu, Hindi, or English, and none of these languages can make an expression of love for the Prophet offensive. “If any word truly disrespects someone, only then can it be called wrong. But writing ‘I love’ for our Prophet cannot be considered wrong at all,” he added.
Calling the FIR a misuse of legal authority, Mufti Raza warned of its wider consequences. “This action is shaking public confidence in the police and will harm social harmony,” he said.
He urged the authorities to immediately cancel the FIR and hold the concerned officers accountable. “We demand that the district administration, especially the Police Commissioner, cancel this false FIR at once and seek answers from the officers who are responsible for it,” he insisted.
Mufti Raza also demanded that clear guidelines be issued to prevent similar incidents in the future and to protect the constitutional rights of citizens. “This is a democratic and symbolic demand. We believe in solving such matters through legal and peaceful means,” he said.
Community members have echoed his concerns, saying that such police actions are unfairly targeting Muslim youths and creating fear among them. Many locals expressed support for the Shahar-e-Qazi’s statement, calling it a much-needed stand in defence of their rights.
