Arrest of Tablighis indirectly gave warning to Indian Muslims that action in any form and for anything can be taken against them: Bombay HC #TablighiJamaat https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/bombay-hc-quashes-firs-against-tablighi-jammat-attendees-slams-govt-for-making-them-scapegoats

A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court at Aurangabad has quashed the FIRs filed against 29 foreign nationals and 6 Indians who were accused of participating in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Delhi without permission. #TablighiJamaat

Slamming the government for charging the petitioners on the presumption that they were already infected, and for the propaganda against the attendees of the markaz at Delhi, Justice TV Nalawade stated: @CMOMaharashtra @OfficeofUT #TablighiJamaat

Big propaganda in print media & electronic media against the foreigners who had come to Markaz Delhi and an attempt was made to create a picture that these foreigners were responsible for spreading covid-19 virus in India. There was virtually persecution against these foreigners

Court reviews the actions of the Central Government in handling Tablighi jamaat -

The Judge proceeded to find that there seemed to be an element of discrimination and malice in the filing of FIRs against the attendees (Tablighi).

Petitioners (Tablighi) told Court that they were visiting various places in India to observe Muslim religious activities & had informed the DSP about their arrival much before the crimes were registered against them. They informed local officers about their visiting masjids also.

Maharashtra Govt argued against Tablighis:

1)Their stay in masjid was in violation
2) Religious places in Maharashtra were close after March 23
3) They did not voluntarily come forward even after public announcements asking Markaz attendees to get tested #TablighiJamaat

Justice Nalawade found, Tablighis, "even under recent updated Manual of Visa, there is no restriction on foreigners for visiting religious places and attending normal religious activities like attending religious discourses." #TablighiJamaat

On the subject of propagation of Islam and the ambit of ‘discourse’ Justice Nalawade also said:

#TablighiJamaat Tablighi

He also stated that foreigners could not be prevented from visiting Masjids to observe religious practices, given the right to life and freedom of religion under Articles 21 and 25 of the Constitution.

#TablighiJamaat Tablighi

Court also noted that the complaints were registered in the backdrop of CAA-NRC protests in Delhi, which had a substantial number of Muslim participants.

Tablighi #TablighiJamaat #CAA

It was indicated that even for keeping contact with Muslims of other countries, action will be taken against them. Thus, there is smell of malice to the action taken against these foreigners and Muslim for their alleged activities.

Tablighi #TablighiJamaat #CAA

35 petitioners from Ivory Coast, Ghana, Brunei, Indonesia had filed a petition against Maharashtra Government

@CMOMaharashtra Tablighi #TablighiJamaat #CAA
@OfficeofUT

The state government sought a stay on the order of the High Court (Tablighi matter)

High Court: There is no question of granting stay.

@CMOMaharashtra Tablighi #TablighiJamaat #CAA
@OfficeofUT