Muslim man threatens Hindus and Kumbh Mela 2025, urges to wage Jihad

Case Summary
A 30-year-old man, Maizan Raza, was arrested for making threats against Hindus and the Kumbh Mela 2025. He had posted inflammatory content on social media, claiming that Muslims would prevent the Mahakumbh Mela from taking place and urging others to wage Jihad against Hindus. Raza also issued threats against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a prominent Hindu leader, stating in his posts that he intended to harm the chief minister. Earlier, Raza made derogatory remarks about the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, threatening that 2025 would mark its last year. His hateful posts were reported to the Premnagar police station, leading to his arrest. The authorities took the threats seriously, especially given the communal sensitivities surrounding the Kumbh Mela and Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case classifies as a religiously motivated crime because of the perpetrator's obvious contempt towards Hindus and their faith. Based on the details, this case has been added to the Hinduphobia tracker under the prime category of- Hate speech against Hindus. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Violent threats. Violent threats, explicit, implicit or implied, is the most dangerous form of hate speech since it goes beyond discriminatory and prejudicial language to express the intent of causing harm to an individual or a group of people based on their religious identity and faith. There could be several different kinds of threats that are issued to Hindus based on religious animosity. An explicit threat would mean the direct threat of violence towards an individual Hindu, a group of Hindus or Hindus at large. Physical violence, death threats, threats of destruction of property belonging to Hindus and threats of genocide would mean explicit threats against Hindus for their religious identity. Implicit threats may not be a direct threat but implied through the use of symbols of actions – for example – in the Nupur Sharma case, other than explicit threats, there were also implicit threats when Islamists took to the streets to burn and beat her effigies. It implies that they want to do the same to Nupur Sharma – thereby is considered an implicit threat. Violent threats can be delivered in person, through letters, phone calls, graffiti, or increasingly through social media and other online platforms. It would be important to understand that a threat – explicit or implicit, online or offline – to an individual who happens to be a Hindu does not qualify as a religiously motivated threat. Such a threat, while vile and dangerous, could be owing to non-religious reasons and/or personal animosity. To qualify as a religiously motivated threat, it would need to exhibit an indication that the individual is being targeted for religious reasons and/or owing to his/her religious identity as a Hindu. The incident demonstrates several clear religious markers that classify it as a religiously motivated hate crime. Firstly, Maizan Raza specifically targeted the Kumbh Mela, a significant Hindu pilgrimage and cultural event, as well as the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, a highly revered site for Hindus. His inflammatory statements threatening the destruction of the Ram Mandir by 2025 and targeting the Maha Kumbh mela signify hostility he harboured for Hindus and their sacred religious symbols. Further, Raza’s calls to wage Jihad against Hindus reflect explicit religious aggression aimed at inciting violence and creating fear among the Hindu community. By issuing threats against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a prominent Hindu leader, Raza extended his hostility beyond religious institutions to individuals representing Hindu identity. The repeated targeting of Hindu religious practices and leaders underscores a deep-seated hostility toward Hindus and their right to freely practice their religion. These markers collectively highlight that Raza’s actions were driven by religious animosity and deliberate attempts to intimidate and threaten the Hindu community. Consequently, this case has been added to the Hinduphobia tracker.

Case Status
Arrested

Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male