Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azari was arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad in Mumbai on Sunday in connection with a hate speech case.

Earlier on Saturday, Junagadh police arrested two people after a video of an alleged inflammatory speech delivered by the Mufti went viral on social media.

The FIR against Azari and local organizers Mohammad Yusuf Malik and Azim Habib Odedara was filed under Section 153B (promoting enmity between religious groups) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and registered under Section 505 (2) (utterances conducive to public mischief).

Who is Mufti Salman Azari?

Salman Azhari, founder of Jamia Riyazul Jannah, Al-Amaan Education and Welfare Trust and Darul Amaan, is a Sunni Islamic studies scholar from Mumbai.

Azhari learned Dawah Islamiya from Egypt’s Jamia Al-Al-Alzhar, who gained global renown. current era the report said. Azari is known for his controversial speeches, which have often been accused of hate speech and incitement.

This is not the first time Azali has been arrested. He was arrested as early as 2018 for making provocative remarks about Hindus during a speech in Karnataka.

Azari was reportedly released on bail days later, but the charges against him are still pending.

The viral video of the speech was from an event held at an open space near Junagadh B-area police station on the evening of January 31, for which the Junagadh police arrested two people.

Indeed, after the Islamic preacher’s arrest on Sunday, hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Ghatkopar police station and demanded his immediate release, leaving the police with no choice but to respond mildly to the crowd. violent means.

(With PTI input)