Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari on Sunday was arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad in Mumbai in connection with a hate speech case.
Earlier on Saturday, two persons were arrested by the Junagadh police after a video of an inflammatory speech, allegedly delivered by the Mufti, went viral on social media.
An FIR against Azhari and local organisers Mohammad Yousuf Malek and Azim Habib Odedara was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153B (promoting enmity between religious groups) and 505 (2) (making statements conducive to public mischief).
Who is Mufti Salman Azhari?
Salman Azhari, founder of the Jamia Riyazul Jannah, Al-Amaan Education and Welfare Trust and Darul Amaan, is an Sunni Islamic research scholar from Mumbai.
Having studied Dawah Islamiya from Egypt’s Jamia Al-Alzhar, Azhari enjoys a global following, a Times Now report said. Azhari is known for his controversial speeches, which have often been accused of hate speech and incitement.
This was not Azhari’s first arrest, he was earlier held in 2018 for his provocative remarks about Hindus while delivering a speech in Karnataka.
Reportedly, Azhari was let out on bail after a few days, however, the charges against him are still pending.
The viral speech video, for which the Junagadh police arrested two persons, was from an event held at an open ground near the B division police station in Junagadh on January 31 night.
In fact, following the Islamic preacher’s arrest on Sunday, hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Ghatkopar police station demanding his immediate release, leaving the cops with no option but to resort to mild lathicharge for tackling the crowd.
(With PTI inputs)
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