In March 2021, former chairman of Uttar Pradesh’s Shia Central Waqf Board Waseem Rizvi filed a petition with the Indian Supreme Court. In it, he requested the removal of 26 verses from the Qur’an which he maintained promoted terrorism and violence, particularly against non-Muslims. Waseem also claimed that the verses in question were not in the original Qur’an, but only added after the original composition of the text.

Reaction to the petition from religious groups was intensely negative. Critics derided it as a “publicity stunt” and castigated Waseem for attempting to inflame feelings of religious enmity. Some who had been political allies to Waseem in the past condemned him for doing this. By Waseem’s own account, his wife, children, and family turned their backs on him in the midst of the incident.

“I am on the right path and will fight this battle till the last breath. [It may be suicidal], but [I] will not give up.” - Waseem Rizvi

In the wake of the controversy, one lawyer called for Waseem’s beheading, even announcing a monetary reward for one who did the deed. This call was spread “widely” on social media. Although the police registered a case against the man who made the threat, Waseem still went into hiding.