Delhi HC extends protection to woman who converted to Islam; claimed harassment by UP Police, others

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 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, Live Law has reported.

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 she'll be taken back to UP and be converted again."

The court had earlier granted protection to the woman till July 5 and directed the Delhi Police to ensure the safety of the woman who hails 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 some small time newspapers every day.

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

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

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

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

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 was threatened that she would be forcefully taken back to UP and would be converted again.

In her plea, she has further stated that on June 26, 2021, her father had been taken away by personnel 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 a false complaint/FIR.

She has submitted in her bail plea that she is an adult and 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.