The controversy surrounds a couplet recited by Mufti Azhari in the course of his speech. In the video, he is heard saying: “There is silence for some time, then the lion will come. Today is the time of the dogs. Tomorrow our turn will come.”
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Influential Islamic cleric and preacher Mufti Salman Azhari was arrested from Mumbai and taken to Gujarat late on Sunday night. His arrest comes in connection with an allegedly inflammatory speech that he had delivered in Gujarat’s Junagarh last week.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) took Mufti Azhari into custody in the morning and proceeded towards Junagadh on a transit remand for two days, reports reaching here said on Monday.
A video clip of the speech delivered by Mufti Azhari in Junagarh on January 31 has since gone viral on different social media platforms social media.
Some right-wingers took umbrage at the couplet claiming Mufti Azhari made derogatory remarks against the Hindu community.
The controversy surrounds a couplet recited by Mufti Azhari in the course of his speech. In the video, he is heard saying: “There is silence for some time, then the lion will come. Today is the time of the dogs. Tomorrow our turn will come.”
BJP’s national spokesperson, Sudhanshu Trivedi, took to Twitter, demanding action against Mufti Azhari, accusing him of calling Hindus “dogs.” The tweet intensified the debate, leading to Azhari’s response where he clarified that his statement was taken out of context. He argued that “dog” was not specifically associated with any religious or ethnic group.
In the aftermath, two event organizers were arrested, and a case was registered. Subsequently, Gujarat Police, in collaboration with Mumbai Police, arrested Mufti Azhari. Azhari, on his part, took to Twitter to express his disagreement with the arrest, clarifying that he did not target any particular community in his speech.
Hundreds of Mufti Azhari’s supporters gathered outside the Ghatkopar police station in Mumbai and blocked the traffic when he was brought there. The crowd was lathi-charged to make way for the police convoy heading towards Junagadh with the preacher.
In a message, the cleric urged his supporters not to protest against his detention and requested them to vacate the police station premises to maintain law and order.
All India Majlis Ittihadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan said Mufti Azhari’s speech was about the Israel-Palestine dispute and he didn’t intend to provoke anyone.
Mufti Azhari is a Sunni research scholar and motivational speaker. He is the founder of Jamia Riyazul Jannah, Al-Amaan Education and Welfare Trust, and Darul Amaan, according to his X (formerly Twitter) bio.
He studied at the Al Azhar University in Cairo, the oldest degree-giving university in Egypt and among the most prestigious Islamic learning centres.
Mufti Azhari’s arrest has raised questions about freedom of expression and the interpretation of the controversial couplet. Critics argue that the couplet did not explicitly mention any religious group, while supporters contend that the arrest is an infringement on his right to express his views.
Mufti Azhari’s arrest has sparked a broader debate on the selective enforcement of laws and the need for careful consideration of context in interpreting statements. The case is likely to fuel discussions about the delicate balance between freedom of expression and preventing hate speech in a diverse society.
