Kanpur: FIR Filed Against Muslim Youth for “I LOVE MOHAMMAD ﷺ” Banner, Owaisi Strongly Reacts

Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh – A controversy has erupted in Kanpur over a banner reading “I LOVE MOHAMMAD ﷺ” that was displayed by Muslim youth during a Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ procession. Although the matter was initially resolved peacefully a week ago in the presence of police and local community leaders, the situation has now escalated after police registered a case against 15 Muslim youth, including 8 named individuals.

Police Call It a “New Tradition”

Police officials stated that the act of displaying the banner was considered a “new tradition,” which, under government guidelines, is not allowed to be introduced without permission. They confirmed that an FIR has been lodged and an investigation is underway.

Owaisi’s Strong Reaction: “This is not a crime; I’m ready to accept any punishment”

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President and Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the police action, tweeting:

“I LOVE MOHAMMAD ﷺ @adgzonekanpur is not a crime. But if it is, then I am ready to accept any punishment for it.”

He also expressed his love for the Prophet ﷺ by posting poetic verses:

“I would sacrifice my life a thousand times, O Messenger ﷺ,
May the desires of my heart come true, O Messenger ﷺ,
Why wouldn’t I love you from the bottom of my heart, O Messenger ﷺ,
For it is filled with dreams of you, O Messenger ﷺ.”

Social Media Uproar and #ILoveMohammad Trend

The FIR triggered a wave of public anger on social media. The hashtag #ILoveMohammad began trending on Twitter (X), with thousands of users calling the expression of love for the Prophet ﷺ a constitutional and religious right. Many demanded that the FIR be withdrawn.

Users wrote messages such as:

“Loving the Prophet ﷺ is not a crime—it’s a part of our faith. If this is a crime, we are ready to face any punishment.”

Locals Say Case is Unjustified

While police maintain that the situation is sensitive and that action was taken to preserve law and order, many local residents argue the issue has been unnecessarily escalated. They insist the banner was not provocative and was simply an expression of religious devotion during a peaceful procession.

The incident has raised broader concerns about religious expression and police overreach, especially in communal-sensitive regions. Rights groups and citizens continue to question whether such cases violate the fundamental right to religious freedom in a secular democracy like India.