After #ArrestAarfaKhanam trends on X (formerly Twitter), Okhla leader and Supreme Court Advocate Aarfa Khanam issued an apology on Saturday. However, a complaint has been filed against her for hurting sentiments on X. The storm online started over her Eid-Al-Adha post, which she later deleted. But the screenshot of her post went literally viral, with many sharing it and demanding strict action against her for hurting sentiments.
ईद-उल-अज़हा के अवसर पर मेरे साथ x अकाउंट से एक पोस्ट साझा हुई थी, जिसमें किसी भी धर्म या समुदाय की भावनाओं को ठेस पहुँचाने का कोई उद्देश्य नहीं था। लेकिन अगर उस पोस्ट से किसी को ठेस पहुँची हो — विशेष रूप से हिन्दू समुदाय के किसी भी सदस्य की भावना आहत हुई हो — तो मैं उसके लिए दिल… pic.twitter.com/PZq4BNB4Y9
— Aarfa Khanam (@Adv_AarfaKhanam) June 7, 2025
In a video message released a few minutes ago, she wrote: “On the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, a post was shared from my X account, which had no intention of hurting the sentiments of any religion or community. However, if that post did hurt anyone — especially if any member of the Hindu community felt hurt — I sincerely apologise for it. I deeply respect all religions and beliefs. As soon as I realised my mistake, I immediately took the post down. My only intention was to share festive greetings, not to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. Let us all come together to promote harmony, peace, and mutual respect.”
Aarfa Khanam is a Congress leader and was in the contest for Councillor election in 2022.
Aarfa Khanam reportedly posted a photo on social media in the morning, coinciding with Eid-Ul-Adha celebrations across India. The day began in a festive spirit as Muslims attended mosques to offer Eid-Ul-Adha prayers. In Okhla, the festival was also observed, with residents performing qurbani in accordance with administrative guidelines. These guidelines specifically instructed people not to record or share photos and videos of the qurbani on social media.
A special awareness campaign was launched on Friday in the area, urging residents to celebrate the festival of sacrifice with cleanliness and to avoid dumping animal waste in open spaces or on the roadside.
A day earlier, the Delhi Government had issued advisories related to Eid-Ul-Adha. Shortly after, Aarfa Khanam’s post surfaced online, sparking outrage. Some netizens even tagged Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra on social media, urging him to take action against the activist for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
In an earlier statement, Kapil Mishra said: “The Delhi Government is committed to protecting our cultural and environmental heritage, of which animal welfare is an integral part. We will not tolerate any illegal sacrifices or cruelty during the festival celebrations. Strict compliance with the advisory is non-negotiable, and violators will face immediate action from law enforcement agencies.”
The official advisory further noted: “As per rules, camels are not considered food animals and therefore cannot be slaughtered for food. The Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, 1994, strictly prohibits the slaughter of cows in Delhi.”
The advisory also banned the photographing or sharing of images and videos of the sacrificial ritual on social media, aiming to prevent the promotion or glorification of such practices. Authorities were directed to take necessary precautions to “stop illegal killing of animals during the Bakra-Eid festival and to take stringent action against the offenders,” it added.
