MSO & Raza Academy move Delhi High Court over arrests linked to 'I Love Muhammad' posters

Delhi High Court

The Muslim Students Organisation of India (MSO) and Raza Academy have jointly filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Delhi High Court, challenging multiple FIRs and arrests made in connection with expressions of devotion, such as posters and banners carrying the message "I Love Muhammad."

Filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petition argues that the cases registered FIRs are communal in nature and violate the fundamental rights of the petitioners.

It asserts that ordinary citizens, largely from the Muslim community, were peacefully celebrating religious festivals by displaying posters, banners, and decorations when they were falsely accused of rioting, criminal intimidation, and breach of peace.

The petition highlights that the invocation of Sections 187, 188, 351, and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the petitioners, coupled with alleged procedural lapses under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), represents a misuse of the criminal justice system.

The petition raises significant constitutional questions, including whether criminal law can be selectively used against minority communities on religious grounds, and whether police authorities can bypass statutory safeguards under the BNSS during investigations.

The petitioners state that they are innocent and peace-loving citizens with no criminal history and that the FIRs lodged against them were motivated by communal prejudice.

While moving the Court, both MSO and Raza Academy have urged members of the community to exercise restraint. In a joint statement, they emphasised that love for Prophet Muhammad is a deeply personal and spiritual matter and should not be criminalised when expressed peacefully.

"We firmly believe that the Constitution of India guarantees freedom of religion and expression. These principles must be upheld. At the same time, we urge our youth and community members to remain calm and avoid any action that could disturb peace and harmony," the organisations said.