Delhi High Court Extends Interim Protection Of UP Woman Who Converted To Islam Till July 22

The Delhi High Court on Monday extended till July 22 the interim protection granted to a Hindu woman who converted to Islam and sought protection while claiming that she was facing an extreme threat to her life and that of her immediate family members who are allegedly being witch-hunted by the officials of the Uttar Pradesh Police.

Justice Rekha Palli however asked that an advance copy of the petition be served upon the State of Uttar Pradesh on the next date of hearing.

The Court ordered thus:

"Despite service of advance notice, none appears for Respondents 4 and 5. It appears that the primary grievance raised by the petitioner is against respondents no 4 and 5. Before any orders are passed against respondents no 4 and 5 who are situated beyond the jurisdiction of this Court, it is deemed appropriate to hear them. In these circumstances, let an Advance copy of the petition be served to standing counsel of UP in Supreme Court. In the meantime, interim orders to continue. List on 22 July."

During the course of hearing today, Advocate Tanya Agarwal appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted before the Court that:

"She is a 29 year old girl. She has been residing in Delhi for the past 11 years. She was converted here in Delhi only. My primary apprehension is that I'll be taken back to UP and I'll be converted again."

The development came after the Court had granted protection to the woman till July 5 and directed the Delhi police to ensure the safety of the woman from Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Following her conversion, the woman had changed her name to Ayesha Alvi, which was published in some newspapers.

The woman has claimed that owing to her conversion of religion she and her family members are being targeted and malicious content about her are being published in the media every day.

The petitioner was a working woman in Delhi and has been residing in Delhi and originally belongs to Uttar Pradesh and on May 27, 2021 she converted to Islam religion with her own free will and without any threat or coercion from anyone.

Since June 23, 2021, when she was in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, she started getting telephone calls from different media persons who requested a meeting, which she refused.

Thereafter, they came to her place against her wishes, and then they took her photographs and took videos without her permission and against her will under force of threat.

She has averred in her plea that Several news reports appeared in the small-time newspapers and news portals in UP with regard to the conversion of the petitioner giving completely absurd and imaginary details.

Further, she wrote a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner seeking protection and alleging that she had been receiving many calls and messages from different people and we have been told that I would be forcefully taken back and would be converted again.

In her plea, she has further stated that o June 26, 2021, her father had been taken away by the officials of the Uttar Pradesh Police and it was informed to her that they would be coming to Delhi and would take her back to Uttar Pradesh where she would be forced to file false complaint/FIR.

She has submitted in her bail plea that she is an adult and she is protected by the constitution to choose her own faith and she cannot be targeted and harassed for the choice she makes with regard to the religion she follows.

Prayers in the plea

- Directions to the respondents to ensure that she is not taken away from the jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court court by force or coercion and or by way of any other illegal means by the agencies of the state or any other person and protection thereof be accorded to the petitioner.

- Directions to the respondents to ensure the protection of the life, liberty, safety and security of the petitioner, her family member and friends and they be not harassed and interrogated with regard to the conversion of the petitioner.

- Directions to the media channels (Including e media, print media and visual media) to not to publish any malicious content with regard to the petitioner and not to divulge her personal details and if already done the same may be removed with immediate effect.

- Directions to the respondent agencies of the state of UP to not to harass the petitioner or any other person who has not converted in the state of UP and on whom the provisions of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020.