Zakir, a bike mechanic in Hyderabad, was arrested for removing the Israeli national flag from a display of international flags installed near the Telangana Secretariat as part of preparations for the Miss World 2025 pageant. The incident took place in full public view, where Zakir climbed the flag installation, pulled down the Israeli flag, and posted a reel of the act on Instagram, citing his opposition to Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Telangana Police promptly registered a case and arrested him following the incident.
The flag display, meant to represent global unity for the international beauty pageant, was quickly restored by the authorities. The police booked the accused under Crime Number 138/2025 at Saifabad Police Station.
A concerned citizen flagged the incident on social media platform X, tagging Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand:
“Respected sir @CVAnandIPS and @hydcitypolice, the 72nd Miss World-2025 event is being hosted in Hyderabad with participation from global delegates… some Instagram users are inciting the removal of the Israeli 🇮🇱 flag, citing the ongoing conflict between Israel 🇮🇱 and Palestine 🇵🇸.”
Yesterday in Hyderabad, Zakir removed Israeli flag from the array of national flags installed for #MissWorld2025 & proudly posted it online.
This is vandalism, a provocation & hurt our nation's image globally.
I urge @CPHydCity and @hydcitypolice to:
– Identify and arrest the… pic.twitter.com/MAYzded2sd— Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) May 16, 2025
In response, Hyderabad City Police confirmed the arrest:
“Following the disrespectful act of removing the national flag, @HydCityPolice has taken swift action. The SHO of Saifabad Police Station has registered two cases under Crime Numbers 138/2025 and 141/2025, and the accused has been arrested. Further investigation is underway.”
Following the disrespectful act of removing the national flag, @HydCityPolice has taken swift action. The SHO of Saifabad Police Station has registered two cases under Crime Numbers 138/2025 and 141/2025, and the accused has been arrested. Further investigation is underway.
— Hyderabad City Police (@hydcitypolice) May 17, 2025
Officials have reiterated that the display was part of a celebration of international harmony and warned that any form of vandalism or tampering with national symbols will be dealt with strictly.
A Curious Obsession: Anti-Israel Sentiment Brews in Hyderabad
Zakir’s arrest for pulling down the Israeli flag may seem like an isolated act of mischief to some, but in Hyderabad, particularly in parts of the Muslim-populated old city, it appears more like a ritual—one where the streets are often more responsive to developments in Gaza than Telangana, and where the latest updates from West Asia seem to hold more emotional currency than news from within India.
The act of removing a national flag—especially that of a foreign country officially represented at an international event—should ideally be seen as a diplomatic slight and an act of public disrespect. But curiously, for some, this is a moment of bravado, even a badge of ideological heroism. That such acts are being celebrated rather than condemned speaks volumes about the skewed precedents being set and normalised.
This isn’t new. The pattern is disturbingly familiar.
In October 2023, the Student Islamic Organisation (SIO) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind held a “solidarity” protest for Palestine—not in Ramallah, but right here in Hyderabad.
Stand in Solidarity with Palestine
Be part of a Powerful Solidarity Gathering to stand in solidarity with our resilient brothers and sisters in Gaza 🇵🇸 #IndiaWithPalestine
12th June'24 | Wednesday | 07:00 PM Onwards
📍Exhibition Grounds, Nampally, Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/noq1zlcBfj
— GIO Telangana (@GIOTelangana) June 10, 2024
On November 8, the roads in Nampally woke up to anti-Israel posters—conveniently pasted overnight, reflecting an organised attempt at street-level foreign policy.
In Saidabad, Israeli and U.S. national flags were spread across the ground so they could be walked over—a protest that cleverly mixes symbolism with shoe soles.
#WATCH | Telangana | Women in Saidabad area of Hyderabad gathered at a Dargah ground to demonstrate solidarity with Palestine, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The national flags of Israel and the US were seen on the ground at the entrance. pic.twitter.com/32kgCvE0Wu
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2023
And as always, the usual mix of Palestinian and even Pakistani flags found their way into Hyderabad’s airspace, waving not in diplomatic halls but during local gatherings.
Earlier post was from Mehdipatnam. This is from Shalibanda, Hyderabad.
Look how they are waving Palestine flags and destroying the public buses creating public nuisance and disturbance.
Police and CONgress Govt. seem to be least bothered. https://t.co/TGLLqVwAPK pic.twitter.com/U9hL5KdteG
— Tathvam-asi (@tathvamasi6) September 19, 2024
While the world views Hyderabad as a rising global city preparing to host an international event like Miss World 2025, some local actors seem determined to export their street-level geopolitics to the nearest flagpole.
