Uttar Pradesh Police register first FIR against Bareilly man for love jihad under new anti-conversion law

An FIR has been filed against a man in Bareilly for forcibly trying to convert a woman to Islam for the purpose of marriage. This is the first case registered against love jihad in the country and it came just a day after Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel approved the ordinance against the practice.

The case was filed after the victim’s father complained to the police. The woman’s father, a resident of Deorania village, lodged a complaint against Uwais Ahmed and said he befriended his daughter when they were studying. He added that Ahmed was forcing his daughter to convert and get married to him. He said that Ahmed had threatened to kill his family members if he opposed the marriage. An FIR has been registered against him at Deorania police station and action has been initiated.

Earlier on Saturday, the Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel gave assent to the ordinance against forcible conversions. According to an official, Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 has been issued after Patel’s approval. The draft ordinance was approved by the state cabinet earlier this week.

According to the ordinance, a marriage will be declared null and void if a woman converts solely for the purpose of marriage. The maximum punishment for violators can be a jail term of up to 10 years. Under the new law, those who are willing to change their religion will have to apply to the district magistrate two months ahead.

Earlier on Thursday, Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Arvind Bhadoria had stirred a row when he said religious conversions were being funded by foreign countries and called it a conspiracy against India. The state government has proposed a maximum punishment of 10 years for love jihad-related offences. He said the government is planning to bring a stringent law to prevent exploitation of women under the garb of marriage.

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