20/09/2025
News about an "'I Love Muhammad' banner in Kanpur" from September 2025 has been circulating in India and has led to protests, counter-accusations, and legal action. The issue stems from the placement of a banner celebrating the Islamic prophet during Eid Miladun Nabi festivities and a subsequent complaint filed with the police.
Timeline of events
September 4, 2025: Members of the Muslim community in Syed Nagar, Kanpur, install an "I Love Muhammad" light board for an event celebrating Eid Miladun Nabi. This was reportedly installed in an area near a gate that Hindu organizations claim is used for Ram Navami processions.
Initial dispute: According to police, Hindu groups objected to the display, viewing it as a "new trend" and a "deliberate provocation".
September 9, 2025: Sub-Inspector Pankaj Sharma files a First Information Report (FIR) at the Rawatpur police station. The FIR was registered against nine named and 15 unidentified individuals for disturbing communal harmony and unlawful assembly. Police stated that the charges were not about the slogan itself, but about putting up the banner and a tent on a public road without permission and tearing down a banner belonging to another group.
September 16, 2025: Over two dozen Muslims are booked by the Kanpur police following the incident.
September 18, 2025: Muslim community leaders and members condemn the police action, with protests erupting in several cities across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. The chairman of the World Sufi Forum, Hazrat Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kishauchvi, called the police action unlawful.
September 20, 2025: Muslim women hold a demonstration in Lucknow, alleging that the FIR was filed against their community for putting up the board. During the protest, led by poet Munawwar Rana's daughter, the women clashed with police and were detained.
