SDPI Condemns Unlawful Detention of Maulana Tauqeer Raza, Demands Immediate Release

Mohammad Shafi, National Vice President of the Social Democratic Party of India, strongly condemns the unlawful detention of renowned scholar and Muslim leader, Maulana Tauqeer Raza, and demands his immediate release. This arbitrary action reflects the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government’s discriminatory policies that target the Muslim community, suppress religious freedom, and fuel communal discord.

The violent crackdown in Bareilly during the peaceful “I Love Muhammad” campaign exposes this bias. Displaying placards expressing devotion to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was met with lathi charges, mass arrests, and a 48-hour internet shutdown. Such draconian measures, while Hindu religious gatherings continue freely, blatantly violate Article 14 of the Constitution and reek of institutionalized Islamophobia under the guise of maintaining “law and order.”

The fabricated charges against Maulana Tauqeer Raza and thousands of protesters, framed as a “pre-planned conspiracy” without credible evidence, must be withdrawn immediately. These allegations, built on selective interpretations of videos and social media posts, represent a gross misuse of laws such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to criminalize dissent. This not only infringes on free speech, assembly, and religious practice, but also erodes the democratic fabric of the nation.

We categorically demand an end to this unlawful suppression, including excessive police force, surveillance, and denial of fundamental rights. The repeated targeting of Muslim gatherings—whether through poster removals in Kanpur or restrictions across Uttar Pradesh—undermines national unity and warrants urgent judicial scrutiny, in line with Supreme Court precedents upholding religious freedoms. We demand a high-level judicial inquiry and urge civil society, human rights defenders, and democratic voices to rise against this authoritarian assault.