Multiple Muslim organisations lodged complaints with Leicestershire police seeking action against a Hindutva mob for their Islamophobic chants raised during Ram Navami procession.
The incident took place at the Cossington Park area in the UK city of Leicester on Wednesday 17 April 2024.
They submitted complaint along with the video of the Hindutva mob, chanting anti-Muslim slogans as an evidence to the police.In the video, which Maktoob has accessed earlier, the mob chanted “Ayodhya is just a glimpse, Kashi and Mathura mosques remain to be conquered.”
Hindutva acolytes targeted centuries old Gyanvapi mosque in Kashi, and Shahi-Idgah mosque in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh taking inspiration from the Ram temple construction on the ruins of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
“We will come and build the temple right after there for you Lord Krishna,” they further chanted.
The Muslim organisations raised their concerns of repeated Hindutva provocations in the English city as it had also witnessed Hindutva-inspired violence in September 2022.
“Reeling from the fallout of the 2022 riots, the latest Islamophobic chants have not only raised further tensions but also caused considerable distress within thecommunity.” Mohammed Owaise, Director of UK-Indian Muslim Council said in the complaint addressed at Rob Nixon, Chief Constable at Leicestershire police.
The complaint also mentioned recent Hindutva attacks of mosques in Leicester from graffitiing “Swastikas” on the walls of a mosque, and “urination outside the mosques, to banging drums during prayer times.
”Along with “Jai Shri Ram”, the mob also chanted “We are Hindus, and Hindu rashtra (nation) is ours.”
“The calling for a Hindu Rashtra (A Hinduethnic state – as seen in the videos) has caused considerable distress to the Indian Muslim community members who have family in India,” reads the complaint filed by UKIMC.
Action Muslim Leicester, a local Muslim group, also urged the Leicestershire police to take action against the perpetrators.
“Our city has no place for intimidation and threats of violence,” they stated on X, formerly Twitter, tagging Leicestershire police.
“I would urge Leicestershire Police to investigate this matter in the hope of identifying and quickly dealing with any harmful behaviour, dispelling any misinformation and avoiding the potential for any further disturbances or disruption to community relations in Leicester.” Najeeb Patel, Chair, Federation of Muslim Organisations, urged the Leicestershire police in a complaint.
