'I Love Muhammad' row: Who is Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, Barelvi sect cleric and prime accused in Bareilly violence?

Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan is a local cleric and chief of Ittehad-e-Millat Council

Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, a local cleric and chief of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, whose call for protest supporting the 'I love Muhammad' campaign allegedly led to chaos in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, was arrested on Saturday.

A huge crowd had reportedly gathered outside Raza's house after he posted a video in support of the campaign. The unrest began after Friday prayers, when demonstrators took to the streets and clashed with the police.

According to India Today, Raza has been named as accused no. 1 in an FIR registered. The FIR alleged that Raza urged his followers to disturb the city’s atmosphere “even if it meant killing policemen” to demonstrate Muslim strength.

Who is Tauqeer Raza Khan?

Khan, who is a prominent face of the Barelvi Sunni community, is a descendant of Ahmed Raza Khan – the founder of the Barelvi sect, according Indian Express.

Ahmed Raza Khan is popularly known as Aala Hazrat. The IE report stated that Khan is the younger brother of Maulana Subhan Raza Khan, the “gaddi nasheen” (custodian) of the Bareilly dargah which is the shrine of Ahmed Raza Khan.

Khan’s father Rehan Khan had earlier served as an MLC from the Congress. In 2001, Rehan Khan launched his own political outfit IMC. The IMC could never make a mark nationally, but it has maintained significant influence. Bareilly Khan himself has never been part of any political party. “Khan supported several regional and national parties over the years,” IMC national general secretary and spokesperson Nafees Khan told IE.

In its electoral debut in the 2001 Bareilly Municipal Corporation elections, the IMC won several seats.

According to the IE report, Khan backed the Congress in the 2007 state Assembly elections. However, he later aligned with the Samajwadi party and eventually the BSP.

“This underscores Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan’s continuing influence and strategic role in UP politics,” said Nafees Khan.

In the 2012 Assembly elections, the IMC fielded its candidates in 12 seats. It also won one seat.

The Akhilesh Yadav-led SP government had appointed Khan as the vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh Handloom Corporation. However, in September 2014, he resigned from this post, accusing the Akhilesh government of failing to prevent the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.

Not new to controversies

In 2010, the Bareilly police had arrested Khan for allegedly provoking mobs to indulge in violence during an Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession. However, the police later filed a report in court closing the investigation against him and granting him a clean chit.

In March 2023, the Moradabad police filed an FIR against him for allegedly promoting enmity between communities over his remarks on “Hindu Rashtra” at a city gathering.

In the same year, the Bareilly police placed Khan under house arrest after he announced his plans for a “Tiranga Yatra” to protest the lynching of two Muslim youths in Haryana allegedly by cow vigilantes.

In June 2015, he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, demanding a complete ban on cow slaughter.