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{{Infobox event | {{Short description| Grand Ayatollah Hasan Imam’s Protest against Journalist}} | ||
{{Infobox event | |||
| name = 2017 Mira Road protest | | name = 2017 Mira Road protest | ||
| image = | | image = | ||
Revision as of 16:08, 30 October 2026
| Date | November 2017 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Naya Nagar Police Station |
| Also known as | 2017 Mira Road protest |
| Type | Protest / police complaint |
| Cause | Rohit Sardana social-media post |
| Target | Journalist Rohit Sardana |
| Reporter | The Times of India; The Inquilab, The News Minute, Veritas International Express, S.M Television |
| Patron(s) | Grand Ayatollah Syed Hasan Imam Rizvi Zangipuri |
| Organized by | Grand Ayatollah Syed Hasan Imam Rizvi Zangipuri |
| Participants | More than 1000 members of Shia Muslim community |
| Outcome | Police complaint and reported criminal case against Sardana |
| Deaths | None |
| Property damage | None, Peaceful Protest |
| Accused | Journalist Rohit Sardana |
| Convicted | Journalist Rohit Sardana |
| Charges | Sections 295A and 153A of the Indian Penal Code, as well as Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 |
| Leader | Grand Ayatollah Syed Hasan Imam Rizvi Zangipuri |
MIRA ROAD, Maharashtra, India — Members of the Shia Muslim community in Mira Road lead by Shia Jurist, Marja and Religious leader Grand Ayatollah Syed Hasan Imam Rizvi Zangipuri, approached the Naya Nagar Police Station in November 2017 following remarks made on social media by journalist Rohit Sardana.[1]
According to Veritas International Express, Shia cleric Ayatollah Syed Hasan Imam Rizvi Zangipuri led members of the community to the Naya Nagar Police Station, where a written complaint concerning Sardana's remarks was submitted. The publication describes its account as an archival report of the 2017 incident.[1]
Contemporary reporting by The Times of India said that complaints were filed against Sardana at several police stations in Mumbai. It reported that Naya Nagar police invoked Sections 295A and 153A of the Indian Penal Code, as well as Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, in connection with the complaints.[2]
Background
Sardana's post was published on November 16, 2017, during controversy surrounding the Malayalam film Sexy Durga. In the post, Sardana referred to female figures revered in Islam and Christianity, including Ayesha, Fatima and Mary.[3]
The post led to protests and police complaints in multiple cities. The News Minute reported that a case had been registered against Sardana in Hyderabad under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code and that complaints had also been made in Mumbai.[3]
The Times of India reported that the Naya Nagar police in Mira Road invoked Sections 295A and 153A of the Indian Penal Code and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.[2]
Mira Road protest
Archival video held by the Internet Archive shows a 2017 event associated with the Mira Road complaint. One Internet Archive item, uploaded by Mumbai TV and dated 2017 in its metadata, is titled "Shia Crowd Lead By Maulana Hasan Imam Rizvi Filed FIR In Mira Road Police Station Against Rohit Sardana On 2017".[4]
A second Internet Archive video, attributed to SM Television, is titled "2017, Rohit Sardana Protest Rally, Maulana Hasan Imam Rizvi".[5]
A YouTube video supplied in connection with the incident is titled "MAULANA SYED HASAN IMAM SAHAB QIBLA Protest against Rohit Sardana. Mira Road".[6]
The 2026 Veritas International Express report says that Zangipuri held a written complaint while proceeding with community members to the Naya Nagar Police Station. The article's editor's note states that the original FIR document was not available to the publication for verification and that "complaint" or "police complaint" is therefore more precise than stating unequivocally that Zangipuri personally filed an FIR.[1]
Sardana's response
Following the controversy, Sardana said that he had received threatening calls, according to The News Minute.[3]
The News Minute subsequently reported that Sardana issued an apology, saying that he had not intended to hurt religious sentiments.[7]
The controversy also resulted in protests outside media offices in other parts of India. Contemporary reports described complaints and protests involving Muslim groups in several cities.[3][2]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Senior Shia Cleric and Chief of Shia Population of Mira Road Ayatollah Syed Hasan Imam Zangipuri files an FIR against Journalist Rohit Sardana". Veritas International Express. September 2, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Muslim groups see red over journo's tweet". The Times of India. November 23, 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Protests in Hyd's Old City against journalist Rohit Sardana for 'blasphemous' tweet". The News Minute. November 23, 2017.
- ↑ "Shia Crowd Lead By Maulana Hasan Imam Rizvi Filed FIR In Mira Road Police Station Against Rohit Sardana On 2017". Internet Archive. Mumbai TV. 2017.
- ↑ "2017, Rohit Sardana Protest Rally, Maulana Hasan Imam Rizvi". Internet Archive. SM Television. 2017.
- ↑ "MAULANA SYED HASAN IMAM SAHAB QIBLA Protest against Rohit Sardana. Mira Road". YouTube.
- ↑ "India Today's B'luru office attacked by Shia Muslim group over Rohit Sardana's remark". The News Minute. November 24, 2017.
External References
The Times of India: "Muslim groups see red over journo's tweet"
Internet Archive: "2017, Rohit Sardana Protest Rally, Maulana Hasan Imam Rizvi"
YouTube: "MAULANA SYED HASAN IMAM SAHAB QIBLA Protest against Rohit Sardana. Mira Road"