‘If you love giving the azaan so much, go to Pakistan. You do not have any place here,’ police inspector allegedly told the muezzin
NEW DELHI — In a case showing high-handedness of the Uttar Pradesh police, a muezzin in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar who alleged assault, misbehaviour and abuse by policemen over the use of loudspeakers for azaan (call to prayers) earlier this week, was arrested on Friday for threatening a police inspector.
Muezzin Muhammad Irfan of Medina Masjid claimed police officers used abusive language, made hurtful comments, and beat him when he objected. The incident sparked outrage, with CCTV footage circulating online.
“I told them that we have written permission from the district administration for the loudspeaker. Even after hearing this, they continued to abuse me. When I objected, they started assaulting me,” Irfan was quoted by media reports as saying on Thursday. He added that the entire episode was recorded on the CCTV camera outside the mosque.
Muezzin Irfan alleged that one of the police personnel, Inspector Vinod Choudhary, questioned on whose permission the former had given azaan. Irfan provided all legal documents and the required permit from the district administration. However, the officer threw away the permission and spoke in a demeaning language.
“Azaan dene ka itna shauq hai toh Pakistan chale ja. Yaha pe tumhara koi kaam nahi hai” (If you love giving the Azaan so much, go to Pakistan. You do not have any place here),” the officer allegedly told Irfan.
After the video became viral, members of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind filed a written complaint with the senior superintendent of police, demanding immediate suspension of Inspector Choudhary and departmental action.
However, on Friday, Circle Officer Siddharth Mishra said Mohammad Irfan has been booked for obstructing and threatening a public servant. “We registered a case and arrested him after a video came to light in which Irfan is seen issuing threats to the police inspector in charge of the Kachchi Sadak outpost,” media reports quoted Mishra as saying on Friday.
