Karnataka High Court flooded with ‘love jihad’ cases

In one such case after three months in court, 20-year-old Silja Raj and her husband Azkar are relieved to be together. Silja had been ordered to stay with her parents for three weeks after allegations that she was a victim of ‘love jihad’. But the Karnataka High Court still wants the alleged ‘love jihad’ movement to be investigated.

"Court has directed to investigate the matter whether there is a movement called love jihad, from where the finances come and certain direction have been given to investigate. Police have filed the interim report. The final report will be filed on January 18 as case has been posted on that day," says Prashanna Deshpande, petitioner’s advocate.

The interim police report says there’s no movement called ‘love jihad’ and Silja married Azkar secretly fearing her parent’s opposition. But the matter is not resting, because of an admission by Silja.

"I was staying in a madrasa for two months. I will get a certificate of conversion to Islam after nine more days. Otherwise I can’t convert and I’ll be a Hindu," Silja reportedly confessed.

There are now two more petitions from Shimoga and Mangalore of Hindu parents alleging that their daughters have been entrapped into religious conversion. As there is no law against ‘love jihad’ as such, the petitioning lawyers are now urging the court to order these couples to marry under the Special Marriages Act, instead of a Muslim marriage which would need the girls to convert to Islam.

In Bharatiya Janata Party- ruled Karnataka where the government talks of ‘hundreds of love jihad cases’ without proof, Muslim associations say it’s a communal tilt to everyday love stories.

"Only communal colour is being given. It’s the matter of individual liking. It’s not a religious liking. A cover is being given in the name of religion because the girl did not come to their fold. She wants to marry this boy and that is the reason this has exploded," says Central Muslim Association Vice-President Wahab Khan. Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court wrestles with the old question Miya Biwi Raazi, To Kya Karega Qazi(Why should anyone object if the boy and the girl are ready)