Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the State Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) to take immediate action on a complaint filed by Shamim Bano, the wife of a Muslim man who was allegedly humiliated by Bhopal police. The court’s order comes after police personnel reportedly shaved off her husband’s moustache and beard before parading him publicly, violating his religious sentiments and human rights, reported the Times of India.
According to the petition, Zuber Maulana, identified by the police as an alleged criminal, was arrested by Bhopal’s crime branch and Mangalwara police. Despite being a practising Muslim, his facial hair—integral to his religious identity—was forcibly removed. His wife, Shamim Bano, filed a complaint with the Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission, but after receiving no response, she approached the High Court seeking justice.
In her plea, she demanded a departmental inquiry and the filing of an FIR against the officers involved in the act, stating that the incident was not only a breach of religious freedom but also a grave violation of human dignity.
Hearing the matter, Justice Vishal Mishra disposed of the petition, instructing the MPHRC to resolve the case at the earliest. Advocates Prashant Chaurasia and Shoaib Rehman represented the petitioner in court.
This incident has sparked concern among rights activists, who have criticized such actions as communal and dehumanizing, especially in a democratic setup that guarantees religious freedom under the Constitution.
