Why is the Muslim Law Board Demanding the Release of Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan and Others?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- AIMPLB demands immediate release of Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan.
- Police actions against peaceful protests raised concerns about civil liberties.
- The slogan 'I Love Muhammad' is defended as a legitimate expression of faith.
- The Chief Minister's language criticized for being communal and biased.
- Calls for equitable treatment for all communities in India.
New Delhi, Sep 30 (NationPress) The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has expressed strong disapproval regarding the detention of Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan and others amid escalating tensions in Bareilly, urging for their swift release, as per an official statement.
Violence erupted in Bareilly's Kotwali district on September 26 when a sizable crowd bearing 'I Love Muhammad' posters assembled outside a mosque after a planned demonstration by cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan was canceled.
Khan, who leads the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, was taken into custody on September 27 under accusations of orchestrating the unrest and is currently in judicial custody.
On Tuesday, the AIMPLB criticized the alarming remarks made by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the retaliatory stance of law enforcement.
The Board voiced its apprehension over police actions targeting peaceful protests happening statewide in the aftermath of the Kanpur incident, where some individuals were reportedly charged for displaying 'I Love Muhammad' posters.
In a public statement, Dr. S. Q. R. Ilyas, spokesperson for the Board, remarked that the peaceful demonstration by Muslims concerning the Kanpur incident is not a transgression, and the aggressive and careless response from the police constitutes a severe misuse of authority and an extreme injustice.
“The expression of the slogan 'I Love Muhammad' is neither illegal nor unconstitutional. Individuals from other faiths in India similarly express admiration for their revered figures without facing any police or administrative repercussions,” Dr. Ilyas asserted.
Thus, he deemed the lodging of an FIR over such a display in Kanpur as profoundly irresponsible and overtly discriminatory.
The spokesperson further criticized the Chief Minister’s arrogant and authoritarian rhetoric directed at Maulana Tasser Raza Khan and the peaceful demonstrators in Bareilly as unbefitting for someone in his position.
The Board spokesman emphasized that the Chief Minister must remember that he is a constitutionally elected official and not merely the leader of a specific community.
“He represents all citizens of the state and should avoid using communal and biased language,” he concluded.