Despite the widespread demand for legal action, no FIR has been registered against the girl till now. Police sources say they are verifying the video and monitoring the situation.
MUMBAI – A Hindu girl named Sharmishtha has come under heavy fire for making highly offensive and abusive remarks against Prophet Muhammad, triggering strong condemnation and outrage among Muslims across India.
The matter gained attention after AIMIM leader Waris Pathan shared the video of the girl’s statement on social media, calling for her immediate arrest and demanding that the government take legal action.
In the now-viral video circulating on social media, Sharmishtha is seen questioning the character of Prophet Muhammad, using derogatory language. The video caused anger not only among ordinary Muslims but also among community leaders and rights groups who say such behaviour is increasing in India due to growing hatred and freedom given to right-wing Hindu voices.
The girl, who initially defended her comments, later issued a public apology after receiving death threats and facing severe backlash online. She claimed her comments were personal opinions and that she never intended to hurt anyone’s religious feelings. But many Muslims say such explanations are not enough, especially when religious sentiments are deliberately targeted.
Former Maharashtra MLA and senior AIMIM leader Waris Pathan strongly condemned the girl’s remarks and called on the authorities to register a case against her. In a tweet on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Pathan said:
“This girl @Sharmishta__19 has used very objectionable and abusive language about our beloved Prophet (PBUH), which no Muslim will tolerate. The Union Home Ministry must act. She is spreading hatred in society and should be punished under the law.”
He tagged the Ministry of Home Affairs and demanded strict legal action, accusing the girl of provoking communal hatred under the guise of freedom of speech.
Pathan’s statement received widespread support from Muslims on social media, who also called for the police to arrest the girl under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity between communities.
Many Muslim users took to social media to express frustration, saying that Muslims in India are regularly asked to show patience when their religion is insulted.
One user wrote, “When we speak, we are labelled as radicals. But when someone insults our Prophet, it is called freedom of speech.”
Another said, “The Constitution gives equal rights to all. If someone mocks Hindu gods, they are arrested immediately. But when it comes to Prophet Muhammad, there is always silence from the authorities.”
In interviews with this reporter, several Muslim community members said that they are tired of the double standards in India.
Mohammed Arif, a businessman in Hyderabad, said: “This is not the first time. Nupur Sharma also insulted the Prophet, and today this girl is doing the same. What kind of atmosphere is being created? Muslims are being tested again and again. But we will not allow anyone to disrespect our Prophet.”
Shaista Parveen, a student in Delhi, added: “We are told to respect all religions. But what about our Prophet? If someone says such things about Hindu gods, he or she will be jailed. Why is there no justice when it’s about Muslims?”
In her video, the girl not only questioned the life of Prophet Muhammad but also made angry comments against three famous Bollywood actors — Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan — who are Muslims. She accused them of being ‘traitors’ and ‘hypocrites’ for not speaking in favour of the Indian Army.
“They never say a word for our soldiers. They stay silent. So I say they are traitors,” she said in the video, which was filled with anger and hate.
While the Bollywood Khans did not respond to her comments, many users online said the video was part of a larger pattern of hate speech, where Muslims are targeted simply because of their faith.
“First she attacked our Prophet, then the Khans. Tomorrow, she will say Muslims should not live in India. This is hate speech,” said Farhan Siddiqui, a journalist from Lucknow.
After realising the gravity of the situation and receiving threats, the girl issued a statement of apology.
She said: “I apologise unconditionally. Whatever I said was my personal view and I never meant to hurt anyone. I will be more careful in the future.”
But many Muslims are not satisfied with the apology. They believe that people are now insulting Prophet Muhammad openly, and later hiding behind apologies.
Mohd Junaid, a school teacher in Bhopal, said: “These people insult our Prophet, then apologise when they see danger. If there were proper punishment, no one would dare to speak like this.”
Khalida Begum, a housewife in Kolkata, added: “She apologised not because she was sorry, but because she was scared. Her words show her real thinking. Today she insulted the Prophet, tomorrow someone else will.”
This is not the first time Muslims in India have felt insulted by hate speech targeting their faith. In 2022, BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma had also made a deeply controversial statement against Prophet Muhammad during a television debate, which had led to international protests and even diplomatic responses from Gulf countries.
Although she was suspended from the party, no real legal action was taken against her, and she continues to live under security provided by the government.
“This is what gives these girls like Sharmishtha the courage to insult Islam. They see others doing it without punishment, so they follow,” said advocate Faizan Ali, who has fought several cases related to hate speech.
Muslim scholars and clerics have also spoken up, saying the government should act equally for all religions.
Maulana Rashid Qasmi from Kanpur said, “If anyone insults any religion, they should be punished. Today it’s the Prophet, tomorrow it could be someone else. The government must take this seriously.”
He added: “People like her are breaking the peace of the country. We are living together in India with different faiths. But when one group gets the freedom to insult, it will break the harmony.”
All India Muslim Personal Law Board and other religious organisations are also considering taking legal steps.
Despite the widespread demand for legal action, no FIR has been registered against the girl till now. Police sources say they are verifying the video and monitoring the situation.
But Muslim activists say this delay shows the bias in the system.
“Had it been a Muslim making comments about Hindu gods, they would have been arrested within hours,” said activist Shabnam Ali from Delhi. “We are watching. If the police do nothing, we will go to court.”
The incident has once again raised big questions about freedom of speech, law, and the place of Muslims in India. Can someone insult the Prophet of Islam and get away with it by saying ‘sorry’? Does freedom of speech mean hurting the beliefs of minorities? And why is action slow when Muslims are the victims?
Many believe that hate speech against Muslims is being normalised, and this is dangerous for the whole country.
As Abdul Hamid, a retired professor in Aligarh, said: “This is not about one girl or one statement. It is about the silence of the system. If there is no justice, people will lose faith. And that is dangerous for India.”
The Muslim community has once again shown patience — but with a clear warning: if hate continues, silence will not remain an option forever.
