Seven Of Nine Women Gave Statements Supporting Charges In FIR Filed Under UP’s ‘Love Jihad’ Law: Report

An analysis by newspaper Indian Express of the 14 cases so far filed under Uttar Pradesh’s new anti-forced conversion law (loosely called ‘love jihad’ law), points to a statistic that seem to overwhelmingly support the need for such a law.

The analysis says that out of nine police cases where the woman’s statement has been recorded in front of the magistrate, the woman has supported the FIR charges against the accused in seven cases. In only two cases have the women denied the changes, after which the court allowed them to stay with the Muslim men.

Details:

Since the ordinance against forced conversion came into effect on 28 November, named the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020, a total of 14 cases have been filed across the state. Of these, 13 involve Hindu women and Muslim men, and one involves alleged forced conversion to Christianity.

Of these 13 ‘love jihad’ cases, police have been able to record the women’s statements To the magistrate - under Section 164 of CrPC - in nine cases. Of the nine cases, the women have supported the charges against the accused in seven cases, as per various police officers quoted in the Express report.

Of the remaining four, the police have not been able to find the woman in one case. In others, the women either refused to give the statement or the police have not been able to record it yet.

Here’s a list of cases where the woman has supported the FIR charges made against the Muslim men, as per the Express report:

1. FIR at Sahabad police station, Hardoi
   Accused: Mohammed Azad, 24
   As per Sahabad SHO Shiv Shankar Singh, the 18-year-old woman has supported the FIR charges
2. Kotwali police station, Bijnor
   Accused: Mohammed Afzal, 22
   As per Kotwali SHO Rajesh Singh, the 19-year-old woman has supported the FIR charges
3. Dhampur police station, Bijnor
   Accused: Mohammad Saqib, 19
   As per Dhampur SHO Arun Tyagi, the minor dalit girl has supported the FIR charges
4. Kotwali police station, Shahjahanpur
   Accused: Mohammad Saeed, 32
   As per Kotwali SHO Parvesh Singh, the 42-year-old woman, who filed the FIR, has supported the FIR charges
5. Gurusahaiganj police station, Kannauj
   Accused: Mohammad Taufeeq, 32
   As per Gurusahaiganj SHO Raja Dinesh Singh, the woman has supported the FIR changes
6. Meeranpur Katra police station, Sahjahanpur
   Accused: Mohsin, 22
   As per Katra SHO Harpal Singh Baliyan, the woman has supported the charges
7. Dhampur police station, Bijnor
   Accused: a teenager
   As per Bijnor Circle Officer Bijnor Ajay Agarwal, the minor dalit girl has supported the FIR charges