**Tensions Rise in Lucknow as Muslim Women Protest FIRs Over “I Love Mohammad” Boards**
Lucknow witnessed heightened tensions on Saturday when a group of Muslim women staged a protest against recent FIRs filed in Kanpur concerning boards displaying the slogan “I Love Mohammad.”
Led by Sumaiya Rana, daughter of renowned poet Munawwar Rana, the demonstrators gathered outside Vidhan Bhavan’s Gate No. 4, holding placards bearing the same message. The protest turned tense when police intervened, leading to heated exchanges and physical scuffles. Several women were taken into custody but were later released at Eco Garden.
Speaking to reporters, Sumaiya Rana expressed deep concern over the situation. She described it as “deeply disturbing” that Muslims were being booked simply for writing the name of the Prophet Mohammad. “This government is trying to instill fear in Muslims, but we will not be intimidated,” she affirmed.
Rana argued that filing FIRs for expressing reverence to Prophet Mohammad violates constitutional rights and raises serious questions about the secular fabric of India. Accusing the state of applying the law selectively, she stated that law enforcement actions were disproportionately targeting one community.
“If police continue this way, they will be seen as communal,” she warned. Rana also pointed out that Prophet Mohammad has been ranked first among the world’s most influential figures, celebrated for his message of peace.
The protest concluded with the detention of several women, who alleged that peaceful expression was being criminalized. This incident has sparked widespread debate about freedom of expression, minority rights, and the delicate balance between law enforcement and communal sensitivity in Uttar Pradesh.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/uttar-pradesh/muslims-of-india-are-being-terrorized-sumaiya-rana
