Indian Muslim convert seeks police protection against her husband

Rasa - The Kerala high court has declined the plea of a Christian woman who converted to Islam and sought police protection against her husband and his brothers alleging that they are not allowing her to live as a Muslim.

News ID: 1722

Date: 01 December 2014 - 09:40

RNA - A division bench comprising of acting chief justice Ashok Bhushan and justice AM Shaffique considered a petition filed by 42-year-old Minimol of Vettilappara in Malappuram and her 18-year-old daughter, Rasa News reports.

According to Indian news outlets, in the petition filed through advocate CP Peethambaran, she had named as opposite parties her husband Babu Augustine of Karimbana near the Indian city of Ernakulam, his two brothers, and one Biju Mathew of southern Indian city of Kozhikode.

She claimed in the petition that she wants to practice the religion of Islam. Though she was a Christian, she began practising Islam two years ago. Her husband had permitted her to practice Islam initially. However, at the instance of his brothers and Biju, he is not permitting her to perform religious rituals and prayers of Islam now, the petition stated.

The petitioner, who is a school teacher, alleged that her husband and the other respondents are now threatening her on account of her inclination towards Islam. A complaint was filed before the sub inspector of Areekode police station in Malappuram complaining that she and her daughter are not being permitted to live as Muslims, as per the petition.

However, the bench led by the acting chief justice turned down the woman's plea for police protection. The bench held, "On a perusal of the averments, we are of the view that there is no situation which warrants police protection. Police can interfere only if, any offence is committed or there is attempt to commit any offence. Ext.P1 (complaint filed to police) does not disclose any such character and hence we are not inclined to grant any relief as prayed for."

However, the court added that the petitioner can file a complaint before police if any offence is committed or if there is any attempt to commit any offence and directed the police to look into the matter if such a complaint is filed.

R111/108/C/