Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has strongly condemned the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against individuals who displayed "I Love Muhammad" slogans during a Barawafat procession in Kanpur on September 4. The police registered the FIR on September 9, naming nine individuals and identifying 15 others for allegedly putting up these boards on a public road. Hindu organizations objected to the slogans, labeling them as a "new trend" and accusing them of being a deliberate provocation.
In response, Abdullah questioned the legality of the phrase, stating, "Why should anyone object to writing this? Who can have an issue with these three words?" He expressed disbelief that such a simple expression of love could lead to legal action, suggesting that those pursuing the case might be "truly mentally unwell."
Drawing parallels with expressions of devotion in other religions, Abdullah emphasized that followers of various faiths often display love for their deities and spiritual leaders. He pointed out that it is common to see vehicles adorned with images of Hindu gods or Sikh gurus, and questioned why expressing love for Prophet Muhammad should be treated differently.
The controversy has attracted national attention, with All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi also defending the expression, stating that expressing "I Love Muhammad" is not a crime.
Abdullah has called for swift judicial intervention to address the issue and uphold the right to freedom of expression.
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