New Delhi: Delhi Police’s cyber cell has booked Zafarul Islam Khan under sedition charges, days after he posted “provocative” remarks on his social media.
An FIR has been registered against under sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of Indian Penal Code.
Apologies for his controversial social media post
Delhi Minorities Commission chairman Zafarul Islam Khan on Friday apologised for his controversial social media post that prompted the BJP to demand his removal.
He tweeted it on Tuesday. “I realise that my tweet was ill-timed and insensitive in view of our county facing a medical emergency and fighting an unseen enemy. I apologise to all whose sentiments were hurt,” Khan said in a statement.
Statement by Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan (1 May 2020) pic.twitter.com/9d5609e8rS
— Zafarul-Islam Khan (@khan_zafarul) May 1, 2020
Zafarul Islam Khan’s Facebook post
On April 28, the Delhi Minorities panel chief had posted controversial comments on his Facebook.
Here’s what he had written: “Thank you Kuwait for standing with the Indian Muslims! The Hindutva bigots calculated that given the huge economic stakes involved the Muslim and Arab world will not care about the persecution of Muslims in India.”
He then mentioned names of some India Muslims, including Zakir Naik, a fugitive offender, who contributed to the Islamic causes, saying they are “respected household names” in the Arab and Muslim world.
“Mind you, bigots, Indian Muslims have opted until now not to complain to the Arab and Muslim world about your hate campaigns and lynchings and riots. The day they are pushed to do that, bigots will face an avalanche,” he added.
Thank you #Kuwait for standing with #IndianMuslims! #Islamophobia #Islamophobia_In_India @kuna_en @kuwaittimesnews @OIC_OCI @Abdulmane@ZahraniAbidi @LadyVelvet_HFQ @DrAlshoreka @AHMAD_ALWAHIDAH @majedalenzi @JamalBahrain@arabtimeskuwait @gulf_news @arabnews pic.twitter.com/MdOOBviNdU
— Zafarul-Islam Khan (@khan_zafarul) April 28, 2020
Khan apologised after facing criticism
After drawing fierce backlash, Khan had earlier issued a statement saying that he never tried to tarnish the image of India and accused some media organisations of distorting his views.
Issuing a statement on his Facebook, Khan said that he was a patriot and never tried to hamper India’s image at any forum. He said like any other Indian Muslim, he firmly believed in the Indian Constitution and the rule of law.
Statement by Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan on his yesterday’s tweet https://t.co/MA6MaCndGe pic.twitter.com/RkUuApfJER
— Zafarul-Islam Khan (@khan_zafarul) April 29, 2020
“I have not complained against my country to any foreign government or organization nor I intend to do so in future. I am a patriot to the core and I have always defended my country abroad. However, at the same time I have always been vocal about the problems in our country like any other country but we and our political, constitutional and judicial system are capable to tackle them,” he had said.
He also alleged that his views were distorted on a few electronic media forums and many false statements were attributed to him.
