Mufti Salman Azhari, an Islamic scholar, has secured bail in all cases registered against him in Gujarat. However, the Junagadh Police have invoked the PASA Act, leading to his detention at Vadodara Jail, according to his official social media account.
Azhari, a prominent Muslim leader, found himself booked under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) in Gujarat. He was transferred from Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad to Vadodara Central Jail late Thursday amidst tight security due to the huge gathering of his supporters.
Upon his release on bail from Sabarmati Jail, Azhari was immediately apprehended in Modasa by the Junagadh local crime branch under the PASA Act, following a warrant from the Junagadh district collector.
His arrest follows a speech delivered in Junagadh on January 31, for which he was detained in Mumbai on February 5. Subsequently, on February 8, he was arrested by Kutch East police for another speech deemed ‘provocative’ in Samkhiyari village, Kutch district, on January 31. Although previously granted bail in cases from Junagadh and Kutch, Azhari faced charges under sections 153B (promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 505 (2) (making statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.
In the Modasa case, he faced additional charges under IPC sections 153 (B) and 505 (2), along with section 298, for deliberately intending to wound religious sentiments. Furthermore, the police invoked the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, alleging derogatory remarks against the SC community in his speech.
Why was he arrested?
On February 3, Mufti Azhari was detained by Gujarat’s Junagadh police after a ‘hate’ statement purportedly made by Azhari was posted online. On January 31, the speech took place at a gathering close to the “B” division police station. Under the applicable sections of the Indian Penal Code, an FIR was filed against Azhari, and local organizers Mohammad Yousuf Malek and Azim Habib Odedara were also taken into custody.
A large group of people—between 3,000 and 4,000—gathered in front of the Ghatkopar police station to demand Azhari’s release. When he made his proclamation asking people to leave, about 15,000 people were still there.
Supporters of Azhari obstructed traffic while he was being escorted to the Ghatkopar police station, prompting the police to use a lathi charge to make way for the convoy that was traveling to Junagadh.
The Mumbai police registered an FIR against followers of preacher Mufti Salman Azhari, who had gathered outside the Ghatkopar police station following his detention in connection with a viral video accused of promoting hate crime. This incident unfolded after Azhari’s arrest in Gujarat and subsequent allegations of promoting enmity between religious groups.
Who is Maulana Mufti Azhari?
Maulana Mufti Salman Azhari is a Sunni research scholar and motivational speaker who founded multiple organizations. Mufti has studied at Al-Azhar University and has acquired a strong global following through his powerful speeches. Even in the face of legal difficulties and facing many charges, Azhari has encouraged his followers to uphold law and order and avoid protesting.
He delivered a speech that was trimmed and shaved over social media, creating a false narrative of communal hatred. Waris Pathan, the leader of AIMIM, made it clear that Azhari meant no offense when he spoke about the Arab world, Israel-Palestine, and Myanmar. Only a small section of the several-minute-long video was taken down and posted on social media, sparking debate and false information.
A discussion about public figures’ obligations and freedom of speech has been triggered by Mufti Salman Azhari’s arrest and the events that followed.
