BJP member files police complaint against cleric for insulting Christ

Amid clamour for blasphemy laws, the Kochi cyber police has booked a Kerala Muslim cleric for passing derogatory remarks against Jesus Christ through social media, based on a complaint by BJP member Anoop Anthony.

The cleric Waseem Al Hikami, a resident of Kondotty in the Malappuram district, had reportedly spoken insultingly of the circumstances in which Christ was born, and questioned why Christmas should be celebrated. The police registered cases against him under 153-A, 295-A, and 505 of IPC. Antony, former Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national secretary and now with the state party unit, said he will take more steps if the police don't proceed with the investigation process.

According to the FIR lodged, the said speech was uploaded on YouTube by the accused on December 24, 2021. He had in January been booked by the Cyber Crime Police of Kottayam district in the same offense on a complaint filed by a person named Abel Francis.