Hindus threatened with violence over playing Holi by Muslim cleric in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India 
1 March, 2023
Case Summary
In Bilari, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, Hindus received violent threats and warnings of communal riots from Muslim cleric Imam Sadaqat Hussain over playing Holi. This incident occurred on 2 March 2023. According to media reports, ahead of Holi celebrations, a peace committee meeting took place. During this, Imam Sadaqat Hussain warned of violence at the meeting held in the Bilari police station premises. A video of this peace committee meeting went viral, in which Imam Sadaqat Hussain made objectionable remarks. The Imam stated that painting the mosque with colours would spark violence against Hindus. He also said that if Hindus carry out a Holi procession near the mosque, the Muslims would carry out violence against them. In the presence of police officers, he delivered this violent speech, threatening to incite a riot against Hindus in Bilari. Taking the Imam's speech seriously, Senior Superintendent of Police Hemraj Meena ordered action. Following this, Bilari police registered a First Information Report against the accused. Senior Superintendent of Police Hemraj Meena stated that police took strict action against anyone harbouring such intentions. No one disrupted the peace and order of the district. He added that police closely monitored individuals who could disturb the peace. If such individuals attempted any misdeeds, police took the most stringent action.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Hate Speech against Hindus. The subcategory 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. This case represents a clear instance of religiously motivated hate speech and violent threats directed at the Hindu community over the simple celebration of Holi, a revered Hindu festival symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The Muslim cleric, Imam Sadaqat Hussain, explicitly threatened Hindus with violence and communal riots solely for playing Holi or conducting religious processions. Such pronouncements stem from deep-seated contempt and hatred for Hinduism and the Hindu community, transforming a routine cultural expression into a pretext for incitement. This establishes the incident as unambiguous hate speech designed to intimidate and suppress Hindu religious practices. The Muslim cleric explicitly stated that even accidental splashes of Holi colours on the mosque would unleash violence and full-scale riots against Hindus by Muslims. Holi celebrations involve massive crowds joyfully throwing vibrant powders and liquids, which naturally spill onto surrounding streets, walls, and buildings, including nearby religious sites like mosques. By framing such unavoidable, incidental contact as justification for brutal retaliation, the perpetrator exposed his utter contempt for Hindu cultural practices and festive spirit. He escalated further by warning that any Hindu religious procession simply passing near a mosque would ignite Muslim riots targeting Hindus. These calculated pronouncements sought to paralyse Hindu communities with fear, severely restricting their freedom of movement, worship, and celebration while openly endorsing premeditated communal violence against the entire Hindu population. His declaration that a Holi procession passing by a mosque would provoke violence perfectly reveals the mindset of religious supremacy and anti-Hindu hatred prevalent among such perpetrators. Muslims routinely claim surrounding areas near mosques, dargahs, or Muslim-majority neighbourhoods as exclusive "Muslim territories" where non-Muslims hold no rights. This toxic ideology embodies Islamic supremacy, as the cleric brazenly asserted absolute control over public spaces and branded Hindus as unwelcome invaders deserving punishment. His threats radiated entitlement and arrogance, deeply rooted in prejudice, positioning Muslims as rightful dominators who could exclude and terrorise Hindus from venturing into "their area." This exclusionary supremacy directly proves that the crime stemmed from religious animosity. Threatening Hindus during one of their most auspicious and sacred festivals exposes profound, deep-seated religious animosity towards the Hindu community. Holi represents profound spiritual renewal, the triumph of good over evil, and joyous communal unity for millions of Hindus worldwide, marked by vibrant processions, devotional singing, and shared feasting. Yet the Muslim cleric deliberately weaponised this holy occasion, twisting innocent celebrations into a fabricated trigger for aggression and positioning Hindu devotion itself as a criminal act warranting riots. Such targeted intimidation maximises psychological terror, aiming to shatter Hindu confidence and suppress their faith during peak religious observance. Given that this case satisfies all key parameters of a hate crime, including targeted threats during a sacred festival, incitement to riots, and supremacist territorial claims, Hinduphobia Tracker adds it to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Complaint registered
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
