Mufti Salman Azhari, a prominent Sunni Islamic research scholar, was apprehended by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad in Mumbai on Sunday. This arrest follows the Junagadh police’s detention of two individuals on Saturday in connection with a viral video featuring hate speech attributed to Mufti Salman Azhari.

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Mufti Salman Azhari, the founder of Jamia Riyazul Jannah, Al-Amaan Education and Welfare Trust, and Darul Amaan, is a Sunni Islamic scholar hailing from Mumbai. With a global following, Azhari studied Dawah Islamiya at Egypt’s Jamia Al-Alzhar. Despite his scholarly background, Azhari has often courted controversy due to his speeches, which have been accused of promoting hate and incitement.

The recent arrest is not Azhari’s first encounter with the law. In 2018, he faced arrest for provocative remarks against Hindus during a speech in Karnataka. Although he secured bail after a few days, the charges against him remained pending. The current legal troubles for Azhari stem from a video capturing an inflammatory speech delivered at an event near the B division police station in Junagadh on January 31. The Junagadh police acted swiftly, arresting two individuals linked to the event. An FIR was registered against Azhari and local organizers Mohammad Yousuf Malek and Azim Habib Odedara under IPC sections 153B and 505(2).

Source: India Today

Following Azhari’s arrest in Mumbai, a large crowd of supporters gathered outside the Ghatkopar police station, demanding his immediate release. The situation escalated, prompting the police to resort to mild lathi charge to control the crowd. The fervent response from Azhari’s supporters underscores the controversial preacher’s significant influence and following.

Azhari’s earlier arrest in 2018 for remarks against Hindus had stirred a similar reaction from his supporters. The current incident highlights the challenges authorities face in balancing freedom of expression with preventing the incitement of hatred among religious groups.

Source: Hindustan Times

The charges of promoting enmity between religious groups and making statements conducive to public mischief are serious allegations. The legal proceedings will determine the outcome of Azhari’s case, shedding light on the boundaries of free speech and the responsibility that accompanies it.