Indian priest booked for blasphemous remarks targeting Muslims

ANKARA (AA) – Police in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in India have registered a case against a Hindu priest Yati Narsinghanand for his offensive remarks against the sacred personalities of Islam.

“Taking cognizance of the viral video, a case has been promptly registered under relevant sections…and further legal action is being ensured,” a statement on X by Ghaziabad police said.

A video had gone viral about Narsinghanand’s speech, which was described as “blasphemous” by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, India’s largest socio-religious Muslim organization.

“Take action against Yati Narsinghanand’s blasphemous remarks,” Maulana Mahmood Madani, president of the Jamiat, wrote to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, condemning Narsinghanand’s offensive comments hurting the sentiments of India’s 172 million-strong Muslim community.

“This hate speech threatens communal harmony and must be addressed. Immediate legal action and removal of the video are essential to uphold peace and respect for all religions,” he said in the letter.

This is not the first time a case has been registered against this Hindu fanatical priest.

He was booked by police earlier as well for his repetitive blasphemous remarks.

The latest hate speech case comes as the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said in its latest report that religious freedom in India continues to follow a “deteriorating and concerning trajectory.”

The Indian government, however, rejected the report, saying: “It continues to misrepresent facts and peddles a motivated narrative about India.”

Under the government of Hindu nationalist prime minister Narendra Modi, India has experienced rising levels of religious prejudice against its sizeable Muslim community.