UP: 12 Muslim men detained, fined for offering namaz inside private house
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Bareilly: Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district detained and fined 12 Muslim men for allegedly offering namaz inside a private house “without permission”, officials said.
According to PTI, the men were challaned under legal provisions related to breach of peace and were subsequently produced before a magistrate, who granted them bail.
Superintendent of Police (South) Anshika Verma said the police action followed information that a vacant house in Mohammedganj village was allegedly being used as a temporary madrasa. “Conducting any new religious activity or gathering without permission is a violation of the law,” Verma said, adding that “strict action will be taken if such activities are repeated”.
The matter came to light after a video, purportedly showing Muslim men offering namaz inside the house, was circulated widely on social media. The video was shared by several Hindutva-linked accounts and was accompanied by hateful comments targeting Muslims.
Police said a preliminary inquiry revealed that the house belongs to a man identified as Hanif and was being used temporarily for Friday prayers. There was no indication of permanent construction or any institutional religious activity at the site, PTI quoted the police as saying.
The detention and fining of the men have sparked questions over the policing of Muslim religious practices, particularly as prayers inside private homes are common in many parts of the country due to limited access to mosques or the lack of adequate prayer spaces.
