India demolishes Muslim man's home after protests over Prophet Mohammed insults

Indian authorities demolished the house of a Muslim politician and campaigner said to be responsible for street protests against insulting remarks about Prophet Mohammed made by two Bharatiya Janata Party officials.

Bulldozers were sent on Sunday to flatten the two-storey house of Javed Mohammad, a local leader with Welfare Party of India in Prayagraj in northern Uttar Pradesh, a day after he and relatives were arrested by police.

Thousands of armed officers were sent to the demolition that was carried out on an hour's notice to the family.

Authorities said the house was an unauthorised construction, a claim Mr Mohammad's family denied.

Police conducted a search operation before the demolition and claimed they recovered illegal weapons, flags and posters in support of the protesters at his house.

“We have found a 12 bore illegal pistol and a 315 bore pistol and cartridges and some documents that show objectionable comments against the honourable court,” said Ajay Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Prayagraj Police.

Police claimed that Mr Mohammad's daughter, Afreen Fatima, a student leader, was involved in the protests.

“First police took away my father and then they detained my mother and sister … they came to detain me but we resisted. Since then, police have cordoned off our house,” Ms Fatima said before the demolition.

Violent protests broken out across several Indian cities on Friday after Muslim demonstrators demanded the arrest of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.

They insulted the Prophet Mohammed during a television debate and on social media.

Both face legal cases in several states concerning hurting religious sentiments — a provision designed to deal with hate speech — but neither was arrested.

Several people were injured in Prayagraj district, where a mob attacked police cars and hurled stones at riot police.

The demolition of Mr Mohammad's home happened a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government knocked down the homes of two Muslim men for their part in Friday's protests in Saharanpur district.

His government also confiscated three buildings owned by Jafar Hayat Hashmi whom police have accused of organising protests in Kanpur last Friday.

Demonstrators shout anti-Indian slogans during a protest in Quetta against former Bharatiya Janata Party spokeswoman Nupur Sharma and her remarks about the Prophet Mohammed. AFP
Demonstrators burn an effigy of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. AFP
Demonstrators in Karachi. AFP
A member of the JK Awami Aawaz Party holds a placard during a protest in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. EPA
Supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, a religious and political party, gather in Karachi. Reuters
Kashmiri Muslims shout slogans during a protest march in Srinagar. EPA
Activits of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan party march in Rawalpindi. AFP
Kashmiri Muslims protest in Srinagar. EPA
Kashmiri Muslims march in Srinagar. EPA

The demolitions are the latest in a series of arbitrary acts by Yogi Adityanath’s government, when Muslim-owned properties were also demolished following communal violence.

The Hindu monk-politician has been accused of by-passing legal processes, in what opponents and critics claim is retaliation against protesters and dissenters and to create a chilling effect.

Lawyers sent a joint letter to the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court claiming the demolition was illegal.

In New Delhi, students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union on Sunday staged a demonstration on the campus against the Uttar Pradesh government, holding placards that read “Stop the witch-hunt of Muslims”.

Bulldozers were also used against the property of Muslims after communal clashes in BJP-ruled states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat in May.

More on Quran memorisation:

How Quran memorisation helps 'train the brain'

Mastering the memory: the phenomena of Quran memorisation

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets