'I Love Muhammad' Sign Sparks Clashes, Arrests in Uttar Pradesh

Several BJP-ruled Indian states file cases against hundreds of Muslims, most of them in northern Uttar Pradesh state, for raising the innocuous religious chant. A seemingly minor incident during Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP), sparked wider religious tensions and protests across the state.

The initial incident occurred on September 4 in Kanpur’s Syed Nagar, a predominantly Muslim neighborhood. Residents put up an illuminated sign saying "I love Muhammad" as part of their decorations for the Prophet’s birthday. A group of local Hindu men objected to the sign's placement, claiming the spot was traditionally used for Hindu festival decorations. Police were called, the sign was removed, and charges were filed against nine Muslim men (and 15 unidentified individuals) for promoting religious enmity and malicious acts. Muslim residents countered that they had official permission and were using a traditional public space.

Days later, the controversy spread to Bareilly, the headquarters of the global Barelvi sect of Sunni Muslims. On September 10, UP police filed a similar First Information Report (FIR) against nine Muslims, including a religious scholar, accusing them of distributing communal harmony and starting a "new tradition." In response, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, chief of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), called for a protest rally in Bareilly on September 26, which was denied permission. Despite the IMC officially cancelling the gathering, thousands of Muslims assembled after Friday prayers, holding "I love Muhammad" posters and protesting the police actions. Authorities alleged the march was unauthorized and involved vandalism and stone-pelting, leading to a police baton charge and the arrest of Khan and dozens of others. Internet services were also shut down.

Following the unrest, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a hardline Hindu monk from the ruling BJP, condemned the incident as a "well-orchestrated attempt" and warned of further action. The state subsequently bulldozed a banquet hall belonging to one of the accused in Bareilly, a tactic Adityanath refers to as "denting-painting" against those accused of disrupting public order. The events highlight the charged communal atmosphere in UP, where Muslims comprise nearly 20% of the population.