Kochi:
The flip-flop on inter-caste marriages in Kerala that a section in
the media terms as 'Love Jihad' or 'Forceful Conversion' took a new
turn when Kerala High Court said it found traces of such acts.
Observing that there are indications of "forceful" religious
conversions under the guise of "love" in Kerala, the state high
court today suggested the government to consider enacting a law to
prohibit such "deceptive" acts.
"Under the pretext of love there cannot be any compulsive, deceptive
conversion," the court said.
Justice K T Sankaran made the observations dismissing anticipatory
bail applications by two accused in activities of 'Love Jihad',
allegedly involving converting girls from other religions to
Islam
after enticing them to marry Muslim boys.
After perusing the case diary in 'Love Jihad' cases, he held there
were indications of forceful religious conversions. From some of the
police reports, it was clear there was a 'concerted' effort to
convert girls of a particular religion to another with the
'blessings of some outfits', he said.
This
should be of concern to people at large and government was bound to
protect the fundamental rights of citizens, the court said and asked
the legislature to consider enactment of law to prohibit compulsive
conversion of religious faiths.
Any
use of force for propagation of religion was illegal and may cause
law and order problems, Sankaran said. Quoting statistics, the court
said during the last four years 3,000 to 4,000 religious conversions
have taken place after love affairs.
According to reports by special branch of police, fundamental
outfits like National Democratic Front (NDF) and Campus Front have
roots in college campuses in various cities, it said.
As
per available information, the plan was to 'trap' brilliant upper
caste
Hindu
and Christian girls from well-to-do families. Though there was no
evidence so far to show 'Love Jihad' has operations all over India,
it was said the programme was started in 1996 with blessings of some
Muslim organisations, the court observed.
The
court earlier dismissed the anticipatory bail applications of
Shanshah and Sirajuddin, two youths who had eloped with girls
belonging to Hindu and Christian religions.
The
girls who were produced in the court following habeas corpus
petitions were at first not willing to return to their parents.
However, they agreed to go later on conditions prescribed by the two
accused.
According to police, the girls said they were persuaded to convert
to Islam and were directed not to disclose the activities of Popular
Front which was allegedly assisting the two accused. "Their
religious faith was questioned and insulted, they told police."
Referring to the petitions, judge Sankaran said there were several
insinuations against the court. The petitioners made comments which
borders on contempt of court. "I am inclined to forget and forgive,"
he said.
Kerala DGP
Jacob
Punnose had on November 11 informed the court that no conclusive
evidence had yet been received about 'Love Jihad'. The court had
earlier expressed dissatisfaction with Punnose's October 22
statement, saying some answers were 'vague'.
Punnose had said there were reasons to suspect 'concentrated
attempts' to persuade the girls to convert to Islam after falling in
love with Muslim boys, but no outfit called "Love Jihad" had been
identified.
Earlier, local Muslim leaders have
denied existence of any such acts. Stating that inter-caste
marriages in Kerala are common they termed the allegations as yet
another attempt to defame the Muslim community.
Jamaat-e-Islami secretary M K Mohammed Ali said that Islam was
against using forceful means for conversion. "There has been a
tendency among youngsters to fall in love during their college days.
But we do not think that any particular community is using love as a
means to conversion," he said.
Some mosques in Thiruvananthapuram district too are sensitizing the
Muslims against Love Jihad. "Though we have not come across any sort
of Love Jihad activities here, it has indeed become a point of
discussion during the regular prayer meetings," said Vallakkadavu
Jama-ath president Saiffudin.
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