Love Jihad in Manjeri: Girl, father move HC

Courtesy: By Express News Service – KOCHI

A 19-year-old girl who eloped with her lover submitted before the Kerala High Court that about 30 girls belonging to various religions were undergoing religious instructions in Sathyasarani Religious Educational Institute, Manjeri, hinting at the possible religious conversions taking place in the state.

The statement was made by the girl in a Habeas Corpus petition filed by her father stating that his daughter was in the illegal custody of a person called Mohammed Hassan. The girl, a Hindu, was a parallel college student when she entered into a relationship with Mohammad Hassan alias Amnas. In her deposition before the court, she stated that she was converted to Islam and her ‘nikah’ was held at Kondotty. However, in another deposition before the court, Hassan denied having conducted the marriage.

The petitioner, father of the girl, pointed out that the court should also look into the status of the 42 girls missing from in and around Manjeri under similar circumstances admitted in the same religious institution.

In her deposition, the girl stated that on June 9 this year, she had eloped with Hassan to Bangalore. They stayed in a lodge till June 17. The next day, they appeared before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Tirur. She submitted that at present she is staying at Sathyasarani Religious Educational Institute.

Hassan admitted before the court that they had eloped to Bangalore and stayed at the lodge. He had taken the girl to Maunathul Islam Association, Ponnani, for converting the girl to Islam, but they returned from that place as it was not safe or clean. He further submitted that he would marry her provided she converts to Islam.

Considering the petition, a Division Bench comprising Justice K T Sankaran and M L Joseph Francis sent the girl to Santhiniketan hostel in Kochi.

“The girl is confused and knows nothing about conversion to another religion, nor is she capable of taking independent decisions,” the court observed and posted the case to July 4.

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