A Kerala clergyman has been arrested for making offensive statements about Jesus Christ.

An Ernakulam court ordered the registration of a lawsuit against a clergyman for making offensive statements about Jesus Christ

• On Wednesday, the Kochi Cyber Police detained an Islamic cleric called Waseem Al Hikami for attacking the Christian community and disparaging Jesus Christ.
• The defendants were charged after a complaint was lodged by BJP leader Anoop Antony. 

Waseem Al Hikami, a Muslim cleric from Kondotty in Malappuram district, was charged with hate speech on social media by Kochi cyber police. An FIR was filed against a Muslim preacher last year after he made offensive statements about Jesus Christ during Christmas celebrations. On the basis of a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anoop Antony, the case was registered at the instruction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Ernakulam.

Waseem Al Hikami was arrested on the eve of Christmas last month for allegedly making insulting statements about Jesus Christ and Christian believers on social media, according to authorities. The case has been filed in accordance with Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Section 153A prohibits encouraging animosity between various groups on the basis of religion, race, place of birth, domicile, language, and so forth, as well as engaging in activities that are detrimental to the maintenance of peace.

Waseem AL Hikami, the priest, allegedly made offensive statements against the birth of Jesus Christ during the Christmas celebration in 2021. Six months ago, a complaint was filed in Kottayam regarding the event. On June 26, the Ernakulam cyber police opened a new case and moved it to Kottayam.

According to sources, he aired a video on YouTube in December 2021 in which he made insulting statements toward Christians. Anoop Antony, a former Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national secretary, filed a complaint against Hikami, alleging that the priest had violated the religious emotions of the Christian community. The Muslim cleric lives in Kondotty, Malappuram district, Kerala. 

In his complaint, he also claimed that Waseem Al Hikami made disrespectful statements about the birth of Jesus Christ. “Although many individuals protested about the disrespectful and insulting statements regarding Jesus Christ, no legal action was taken.” Following that, I lodged a complaint with the State Director-General of Police and petitioned the Ernakulam Cyber Cell. “The reaction was not what I expected,” BJP leader Antony was reported as saying. “I went to the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate, and the honourable court ruled that the problem be handled, following which the State police lodged an FIR.” 

He went on to say that he will follow up on the matter and pursue it until it is settled. The Police lodged the case on June 28 under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different religious groups), 295A (outraging religious sensibilities), and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code, as directed by the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court (IPC). 

According to a lawsuit submitted by a guy called Abel Francis, the Muslim priest was arrested in January 2022 under identical circumstances. According to Antony, the Kerala Police arrested PC George fast for identical reasons but did nothing in this case. He reaffirmed that he will continue the case against the cleric Waseem Al Hikami, who hurt the religious emotions of Christians. District Police Chief D Shilpa stated that people who propagate religious intolerance online will face harsh punishment.