Lucknow, In a recent move that has stirred controversy, Uttar Pradesh Police detained Hafiz Noor Ahmed Raza Azhari, the Uttar Pradesh chief of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), following his outspoken criticisms of the state government’s policies towards madrassas.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the arrest was made in the wake of Azhari’s comments against the measures adopted by the Yogi government, particularly concerning Islamic educational institutions. Azhari accused the government of orchestrating a systematic campaign to undermine mosques and madrassas, alleging that these actions were intended to intimidate the Muslim community and hinder their access to religious education.

His remarks come against the backdrop of an already tense relationship with the state authorities, highlighted by a previous FIR lodged against him last year. This earlier legal action was related to Azhari’s allegations implicating the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister in the high-profile murders of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf.

The recent arrest underscores the ongoing tensions between the state government and various religious communities, raising concerns about freedom of speech and religious education in Uttar Pradesh.