In a striking judgment, a court in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, sentenced a Muslim man, Mohammad Alim, to life imprisonment after finding that he had deceived a woman by posing as a Hindu, marrying her under false pretenses, and subsequently raping her. The court labeled his actions as part of a larger, systematic effort referred to as “love jihad,” where Muslim men are accused of luring non-Muslim women into relationships to convert them to Islam.
Additional Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar described Alim’s behavior as a targeted strategy, emphasizing that the accused had introduced himself under a false Hindu name, married the victim in a temple according to Hindu rituals, and later subjected her to repeated sexual abuse. The court underscored that the primary objective behind “love jihad” is to gain dominance through demographic manipulation, fueled by an international conspiracy.
The judge elaborated that this deceptive practice is often financed from abroad and involves anarchist elements aiming to undermine national unity. “Love jihad” was characterized as a calculated effort to destabilize India by encouraging illegal conversions, often through fraudulent marriages, coercion, or manipulation.
The court further emphasized that illegal religious conversions cannot be tolerated and cited the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, as a key legal instrument to combat such practices. The judgment warned that if the government fails to curb these activities, the nation could face dire consequences.
The case dates back to May 2023, when the victim filed a complaint against Alim and his family, accusing them of pressuring her to convert to Islam. The court found Alim guilty of rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, while his father was convicted under Section 504 for insulting the victim with intent to provoke violence.
The judgment has been forwarded to senior law enforcement officials, with instructions to register cases under the anti-conversion law in similar incidents. The court’s decision also called for heightened vigilance against illegal conversions, particularly those targeting vulnerable women from marginalized communities, warning of their potential to incite social unrest.
This ruling comes amid a backdrop of controversy involving Judge Diwakar, who has faced threats following his involvement in high-profile cases, including the Gyanvapi mosque videographic survey. Concerns over his safety have led to security measures being requested by the judiciary.