Mujahid Sheikh circulates derogatory image insulting saint Swami Samarth
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 
19 March, 2024
Case Summary
The Navghar Police Station in Mumbai's Mira Road area registered a case against an individual named Mujahid Sheikh for making derogatory and hateful posts targeting Hindu religious beliefs. The accused insulted Hindu saint "Guru Swami Samarth" and also Prime Minister Narendra Modi by referring to him as "Satyanashi Baba" (annihilator). Mujahid Sheikh altered a photograph of the Hindu saint "Guru Swami Samarth," replacing the saint's face with that of PM Modi. He published this altered image on his Facebook page with the caption "Swami Satyanashi Maharaj," implying that PM Modi was an annihilator. Through this post, Sheikh aimed to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus by using the image of the revered Hindu saint, Swami Samarth, who is worshipped in numerous Hindu households. Notably, the complainant, BJP MLA Geeta Jain mentioned that the accused is a repeat offender and that he has been creating chaos in the Mira Road region in the past too. “This is not the first time that Mujahid Sheikh has insulted the Hindus. He keeps on doing it often. The communal situation in Mira Road has just calmed down and someone from a specific community doing something like this is very serious. He has insulted Swami Samarth primarily and also PM Modi, both of these things are highly condemnable. Strict action in this case needs to be taken,” Jain said. The Navghar Police station at Vasai Virar region filed a police complaint against the accused under sections 153A, 295A of the Indian Penal Code and section 66C of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the hate tracker under the prime category- Hate speech against Hindus. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Mocking/denigrating Hindu leaders- Hate speech is defined as any speech, gesture, conduct, writing, or display that is prejudicial against a specific individual and/or group of people, which is leading to or may lead to violence, prejudicial action or hate against that individual and/or group. Religious leaders are often seen as representatives of the community, especially, the community’s religious faith and beliefs. Mocking or denigrating a religious leader specifically owing to his religious identity and/or the religious rituals he observes can be considered hate speech because the motivating factor of the speech is animosity and/or dislike for what he represents – the religious beliefs and faith of the community. It is important to note that mere insulting words against an individual do not constitute hate speech. It is entirely possible that insulting words are used for an individual, however, the specific speech is not the result of religious hate and/or animosity towards the professed faith of the religious leader, but the individual himself. For the speech to be considered hate speech, the speech itself or the motivating factor behind the speech has to be religious in nature. Such speech which denigrates Hindu religious leaders specifically owing to animosity towards the faith they profess and the community faith they represent will be treated as hate speech under this category. Here, a Muslim man named Mujahid Sheikh made derogatory and hateful posts targeting Hindu religious beliefs. Sheikh altered a photograph of Swami Samarth by replacing the saint's face with that of PM Modi and posted this manipulated image on Facebook with the caption "Swami Satyanashi Maharaj," thereby implying that Modi was an annihilator. This act was intended to offend Hindu religious sentiments by misusing the image of a revered Hindu saint who is honoured in many households. Such acts of mocking and denigrating Hindu religious figures are rooted in deep-seated animosity against Hindus and their religion, which is why this case deserves to be recorded in this hate tracker.
Case Status
Complaint registered
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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