Hate speech case: Gujarat police detain Islamic preacher in Mumbai

Gujarat police on Sunday detained Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azari in a hate speech case in Mumbai, an official said.

Mufti Salman is currently at Ghatkopar police station, the official said.

Hundreds of Mufti’s supporters gathered outside the police station and demanded Mufti’s immediate release, bringing traffic to a standstill in the area, the official said, adding that police had stepped up security.

Junagadh police arrested two people on Saturday after a video purportedly of a preacher delivering an inflammatory speech went viral on social media, a police officer said.

He said the speech was delivered at a function held on the evening of January 31 at an open space near Sector B police station in Junagadh.

After the video went viral, Azari and local organizer Mohammad were targeted under sections 153B (promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 505 (2) (making remarks conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code. · A first information report was registered against Yusuf Malik and Azim Habib Oddalla).

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)