Love, not Jihad: NIA ends probe in Kerala's inter-faith marriages
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) doesn't have enough evidence which can lead to prosecution in Kerala's inter-faith marriages, which the agency was probing. NIA took over the investigation on the Supreme Court's order after the celebrated Hadiya case gained attention. Officers privy to the development said NIA doesn't have evidence that man or woman, in 11 cases, were coerced to convert to Islam.
Looking back: Hadiya's wedding to Shafin Jahan made national news
Hadiya's conversion to Islam and wedding to Shafin Jahan led to the apex court directing NIA to probe 11 cases of inter-faith marriages. Their marriage was annulled by the Kerala HC, a verdict which the Supreme Court overruled. In most of these cases, the investigation started after parents complained. The Kerala police handed the cases to NIA, and the latter didn't find substantial evidence.
NIA finds no signs of larger criminal plan, ends probe
An NIA official said there may be efforts to facilitate the conversion, but there were no signs of a larger criminal plan. "The agency has not found any evidence to suggest that in any of these cases either the man or the woman was coerced to convert," HT quoted a senior official. The official added one case was of a relationship gone sour.
The conversions were facilitated but nothing sinister was unearthed
The official said in other cases they found a similar set of people or organizations which helped the conversion, but that's about it. The people or organization were associated with the Popular Front of India (PFI). "We didn't find any prosecutable evidence to bring formal charges against these persons under any of the scheduled offenses of the NIA, like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act," the official said.
Further, official says conversion isn't a crime
"Conversion is not a crime in Kerala and also helping these men and women convert is also within the ambit of the Constitution of the country," he said and added following a religion of choice was allowed by the Indian Constitution.
PFI says 'love jihad' is fictitious, doesn't have any evidence
Meanwhile, KP Muhammer Shareef, PFI's legal advisor said the concept of love jihad was made to paint a bad picture of the Muslim community. "Umpteen investigations and inquiries conducted by various agencies have now found the allegation of love jihad is obnoxious, fictitious and without any scintilla of evidence," he said. However, he added allegations of murder on alleged PFI cadres must be investigated.
