Woman Seeks Police Protection Against Sisters After Marrying Hindu Man, Fears False Rape Allegations Against Husband

A 23-year-old Muslim woman from the national capital who married a Hindu man last year against the wishes of her two sisters has sought police protection, fearing they might falsely implicate her husband in a rape case.

The complaint, accessed by Swarajya, was given on 26 June to the North West police chief and other senior officers.

In her complaint, the woman said she willingly converted to Hinduism and married a Hindu man. However, her sisters, Mariya and Aisha, have been threatening her husband with false rape or criminal assault charges.

Mahira (name changed for her safety) spoke to Swarajya over the phone. She said she filed the complaint after her sisters came to her husband’s house and threatened them a day earlier, demanding she leave her marriage and return to her maiden family.

Mahira revealed that she married Aashish (name changed for his safety) in a temple last year after a two-year relationship. Initially, she did not live with him, hoping to convince her sisters and mother to accept her marriage.

After months of futile efforts, she moved in with Aashish and his family, submitting an affidavit to the local court in April to declare her marriage and desire to live with him out of her own free will.

Mahira’s father passed away when she was three years old, leaving her to be raised by her mother. She also has a brother working in Dubai who is unaware of her marriage.

"He does not know about my marriage. None of us have told him yet," she said.

Mahira, who completed her graduation two years ago, met Aashish through a mutual friend. She was drawn to the Hindu family system and culture, she said.

On 25 June, Mahira and Aashish rushed to the local Netaji Subhash Place police station when her sisters, accompanied by their maternal uncle, showed up at her in-laws’ house.

At the police station, the couple presented court affidavits and wedding photos, proving their marriage.

The police informed Mahira's family that there was no merit to their kidnapping allegations against Aashish. Still, Mahira's sisters privately threatened her with false cases if she did not leave with them, she said.

While on their return from the police station, the couple recorded a video statement on their consensual marriage and released it on social media through an activist, Preet Sirohi.

Sirohi told Swarajya he informed senior officers from the North West police about the potential for false accusations against Aashish.

Ironically, the incident comes when the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has again released a statement regarding India. It has raised concerns over "religious freedoms" and "targeted attacks" on its religious minorities, mainly Muslims and Christians.

India has strongly criticised the organisation in the past.

“In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities,” US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said.