Muslim man jailed over ‘I Love Mohammad’ post gets bail in India
Muslim man jailed for months over social media post secures relief as court notes lack of communal reference, spotlighting wider crackdown linked to slogan
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — An Indian court has granted bail to a Muslim man who spent nearly seven months in jail over a social media post linked to the “I Love Muhammad” campaign, a Muslim expression of faith that grew into an act of defiance after Hindu extremist groups objected to its public display in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The Allahabad High Court ordered the release of Nadeem, who was arrested in Muzaffarnagar, after observing that his post did not mention any caste or community. Legal news outlet Bar & Bench reported that the court noted he had been in custody since October 7, 2025, and that the chargesheet had already been filed, while his trial was unlikely to conclude soon.
The state opposed bail, alleging that Nadeem’s video was provocative because he had said he would “slit his own neck and that of others” for the slogan “I Love Muhammad.” The case reflects how authorities in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state treated even social media posts around the campaign as potential public order offenses.
The campaign emerged in September 2025 around Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the Muslim observance marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad. In Kanpur, an industrial city in Uttar Pradesh, banners carrying “I Love Muhammad” were displayed during processions and Hindutva groups objected to them.
For many Muslims, the slogan became more than a devotional message. It turned into a visible assertion of religious identity in a climate where Hindu extremist groups have increasingly challenged Muslim public presence, religious processions, mosques, Islamic symbols and expressions of faith.
Police removed the Kanpur banners, saying the action was linked to route violations rather than the slogan itself. But the administration’s response helped turn the phrase into a statewide flashpoint.
The crackdown escalated in Bareilly, a city in western Uttar Pradesh, after cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan called for a protest against restrictions and action linked to the campaign. Authorities denied permission for the demonstration. When protesters tried to march toward a ground, police used baton charges and tear gas, while officials alleged a conspiracy to incite unrest.
Civil liberties group Association for Protection of Civil Rights said at least 21 police cases were registered and more than 1,300 people were booked across Uttar Pradesh and other states over incidents linked to the “I Love Muhammad” campaign.
The scale of the cases has raised concerns that the BJP-led state administration used public order laws not only against street protests, but also against Muslim expression online. Nadeem’s seven-month detention has now become one example of how a religious slogan, first challenged by Hindu extremist pressure, was turned into a criminal law issue.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
