The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has released a fact-finding report titled “A Fact-Finding Report into Collective Punishment and Criminalizing Faith: ‘I Love Muhammad’ Demonstrations in Bareilly.” The report investigates the police and administrative actions following protests held in Bareilly on September 26, 2025, which were organized by Barelvi cleric and Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan.
According to the report, the protests were part of a larger reaction to an FIR filed in Kanpur over a banner reading “I Love Muhammad” that was displayed during Eid-Milad-un-Nabi celebrations. Police in Kanpur had alleged that the banner was part of a “new tradition” that caused communal tension. However, local residents told APCR that the banner had been installed with permission and was opposed by right-wing Hindu groups. When the organizers complained about the disruption, police instead filed an FIR against them, accusing Muslims of tearing Hindu posters and attempting to provoke tensions.
The Kanpur incident led to protests across India, including in Bareilly, where Maulana Tauqeer Raza planned to submit a memorandum condemning the FIR. Though permission for the demonstration was denied, thousands still gathered peacefully after Friday prayers on September 26. Police later claimed that some protesters turned violent, leading to stone-pelting and injuries to officers. The APCR report, however, says most participants were peaceful and that the police used “immediate and disproportionate force” without warning.
“Videos show the crowd gathering calmly, but the police began lathi-charging them without any announcement or warning,” said a local lawyer interviewed by the fact-finding team. “The administration’s behavior was aggressive and irresponsible.”
Within 48 hours, police had filed ten FIRs, naming over 2,000 people, including Maulana Tauqeer Raza as the main accused in several cases. By October 7, 89 Muslims had been arrested, with many others detained without being told the reason or given access to FIRs. Lawyers said minors were also among those taken away.
The report also documented demolitions and property seizures targeting Muslim residents and community leaders. Thirty-two shops at the Pehalwaan Markaz Market, located on registered Waqf land, were sealed without notice. Later, the Raza Palace banquet hall, owned by Dr. Nafees, a close aide of Maulana Tauqeer Raza, was demolished under heavy police security. Authorities claimed it was built illegally, while locals said it was a “punitive action” following the protests.
A tenant named Saul told the team, “No notice was given. They came with a large force and gave us only a few minutes to remove our belongings. We were scared. Dr. Nafees was in jail at the time.”
The report found that the FIRs were vague, repetitive, and exaggerated the situation. It said the police “turned a constitutionally protected act of expression into a criminal offense for an entire community.” No deaths were reported, yet sections meant for “offences against the State” and “murder” were added, which the report called “a case of excessive criminalization.”
The APCR concluded that authorities used “aggressive and disproportionate” measures against Muslims, violating due process, human rights, and basic freedoms. The report said that while Muslim neighborhoods were under heavy police surveillance, Hindu-majority areas nearby remained unaffected.
“The findings indicate a pattern of state action marked by a lack of transparency, excess force, and legal breaches — primarily targeting Muslims,” the report stated.
The organization recommended that the government initiate dialogue between the Muslim community and authorities, investigate police excesses, and ensure the release of those unlawfully arrested. It also called on the National Human Rights Commission to look into violations during arrests and demolitions, and urged disciplinary action against officers involved in unlawful force and property destruction.
“The government must stop treating expressions of faith as acts of rebellion,” the report said. “Peaceful devotion should not be criminalized.”
