J&K HC Grants Interim Protection To Woman Allegedly Threatened For Religious Conversion

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court allowed the protection petition of a woman, allegedly being threatened by her family members and relatives, for having converted her religion/faith to Islam. The single-judge bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey has granted interim relief to one Fatima, who claimed that she had converted her religion from Hinduism to Islam, “out of her own free will”. The bench has issued notices to all the Respondents, including the local Police authorities and the Petitioner’s relatives, and in the meanwhile it said, “the respondents 1 to 6 [Police authorities] shall ensure protection to the life and liberty of the petitioner in accordance with law.”
Fatima had approached the High Court claiming that as soon as the factum of conversion of her religion came to the knowledge of her family, they started extending threats. She submitted that her relatives were creating a fear psychosis in her mind and had given her ultimatum that in case she would not revert back to Hinduism she would be eliminated. She was also not being allowed to freely profess and propagate her religion, thereby resulting in violation of her fundamental rights as enshrined under the Constitution of India. Aggrieved by “continuous threats” she claimed to have approached the Station House Officer seeking protection but, in vain.