New Delhi, Oct 7 (NationPress) Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has raised alarms over what they perceive as a systematic effort to criminalise Muslim identity. The organization expressed deep concern regarding allegations of police brutality and the targeted actions against community members in Uttar Pradesh.

During the monthly JIH media briefing, Nadeem Khan, Secretary of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), stated, “What we are observing is not law enforcement but a breakdown of lawful governance.”

“The police have transitioned from being protectors to becoming persecutors,” he remarked.

In recent weeks, a significant wave of repression has engulfed the state following peaceful demonstrations of love and respect for Prophet Muhammad, indicated by posters and banners proclaiming “I Love Muhammad”.

The APCR and JIH are demanding the immediate retraction of politically motivated FIRs, the release of detainees lacking credible evidence, and accountability for police misconduct.

While it is understandable to regulate public gatherings legally, the state's exaggerated response — including raids, arrests, and the defacement of posters on private property — demonstrates a clear attempt to criminalise Muslim identity and devotion.

Many FIRs fail to mention the “I Love Muhammad” slogan, instead referring to unrelated charges such as “unlawful assembly” or “promoting enmity,” exposing a distinct political motive behind the crackdown, Khan pointed out.

As of September 23, police have registered 21 FIRs nationwide, implicating 1,324 Muslims and resulting in 38 arrests, with 10 FIRs filed in Bareilly alone.

“This is not a law-and-order response; it is selective persecution,” he emphasized.

Even minors have faced detention for simply changing their WhatsApp display pictures, while community leaders like Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan have been repeatedly vilified and charged in multiple cases.

He noted that the bulldozer — once seen as a symbol of progress — has transformed into an emblem of collective punishment and political vendetta.

“It is now used as an extra-judicial tool to intimidate and demolish,” he added.

Referring to the 2023 National Crime Records Bureau data, he highlighted that Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest rate of crimes against women and the most significant atrocities against Scheduled Castes (15,130 cases), indicating that “protective governance has deteriorated while state machinery is being repurposed to silence minorities.”

Khan urged citizens of all faiths to reject polarization, stating, “Criminalising love for the Prophet is an assault on India’s Constitution and moral integrity. We must unite to restore constitutional order, equality, and justice.”