Muslim girl converts to Hinduism citing lack of freedom for women

DEHRADUN: The conversion of a Muslim girl to Hinduism against the oppression of woman in Islam has created tension in the area with the woman going into hiding after giving an affidavit of conversion. The matter has been handed over to the police by the Haldwani administration to pre-empt a law and order problem.

One Shahnawaz, who is the daughter of Maqbool Ahmed of Banbhoolpura, Haldwani, district Naintial has given an affidavit to the city magistrate of Haldwani saying that she has converted to Hinduism from Islam of her own will and changed her name to Sunita in protest against the restriction on freedom of girls in Islam.

The conversion has been opposed by her family and the Muslim community here, leading to tension. Her family members have claimed she had been coerced into changing her religion. The district administration is investigating any coercion was involved.

Sunita said she informed the district magistrate of Nainital about her conversion on January 7 by registered post.

After giving her affidavit, the woman is said to have gone to an undisclosed location fearing danger.

Shoaib Ahmed, who is the general secretary of state Samajwadi Party, said converting to any religion is the personal choice of an individual and should be acknowledged as such.

“We are only against any act of forced conversion or that done under pressure, coercion or duress,” he said.

Neema Aggarwal, member of Rashtra Sewika Samiti which is an offshoot of the RSS said that India was a democratic country and every individual had the right to choose his or her religion.