‘Indian Muslims stand with Bangladesh Hindus, but this isn’t betrayal’: Jamaat president defends SRK

The controversy surrounding Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) signing of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman for the IPL 2026 season has sharply escalated into a religion-and-politics flashpoint, with Muslim leaders stepping in to defend the Bollywood superstar after BJP leader Sangeet Som branded him a “traitor.”

National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, strongly rebutted Som’s remarks, asserting that Shah Rukh Khan’s decision to sign a Bangladeshi player does not amount to betrayal under any circumstances.

“Indian Muslims are equally concerned about attacks on minorities in Bangladesh and stand in solidarity with them. But if Shah Rukh Khan signs a cricketer from there, it cannot be called betrayal,” Barelvi said, countering the BJP leader’s comments.

The political storm erupted after Mustafizur Rahman was picked by KKR for ₹9.20 crore at the IPL auction, triggering outrage from sections of the BJP and Hindu religious figures amid reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

BJP leader Sangeet Som, a former Uttar Pradesh MLA, launched a blistering attack on Shah Rukh Khan, calling him a “traitor” and accusing him of investing Indian-earned money in a country “working against India.” Som even made a threatening claim that Rahman “would not be able to step outside the airport.”

Som’s remarks drew further pushback from Muslim religious and political leaders, who described the backlash as selective outrage and constitutional ignorance.

Imam Association President Maulana Sajid Rashidi said opposing Shah Rukh Khan purely because of religious identity reflected growing intolerance. “When a Muslim name appears, protests become automatic. If anyone violates the Constitution, the law will act. Who are you to dictate who Shah Rukh Khan signs?” he asked.

Adding a political comparison, AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan pointed out that India played Pakistan in cricket despite terror attacks, questioning why IPL decisions were being communalised now. “Cricket becomes convenient politics. Money matters more than dignity when it suits the system,” Pathan said.

As the IPL row deepens, Shah Rukh Khan finds himself at the centre of an explosive debate where cricket, religion, nationalism and politics collide, once again raising questions about where sport ends and ideology begins.