Hadiya calls ‘love-jihad’ a lie; says, conversion and marriage were her own decisions

Kochi, Nov 25: Akhila alias Hadiya, a Hindu converted Muslim woman, who is on her way to Delhi to appear before the Supreme Court, rubbished the allegation of so called ‘Love-Jihad’ as “lie” and said that it was her own decision to embrace Islam and then marry a decent Muslim man, Shefin Jahan.

Hadiya, who was literally under house arrest ever since Kerala High Court in a controversial judgment forced her to go with her Hindu father, who had floated the rumour of love jihad, replied to the queries of reporters at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) before boarding a Delhi-bound flight amidst tight security.

"Nobody forced me to convert (to Islam). It was my decision. Nobody forced me into marrying Shefin Jahan. He was also my choice. He is still my husband and I want to go with my husband," Hadiya, whose wedding was declared “null and void” by a the court, told the reporters outside the airport.

The Kerala high court had in May annulled the marriage of Hadiya and Shefin Jahan which took place in December 2016. Jahan then approached the Supreme Court challenging the high court order. The apex court in turn referred the investigation to the NIA.

Hadiya is now being taken to Delhi with police escort along with her father Asokan, who was directed by the top court to produce her before it on November 27.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing into the Hadiya case had again recorded her statements last week. The central agency had officially taken over the case, re-registering it at NIA court in Kochi on August 18.

Hadiya had been staying at her friend Jaseena's residence after returning from Salem, where she was studying for BHMS. Ashokan's complaint had alleged that Aboobacker, father of Jaseena, persuaded Hadiya into embracing Islam. However, Hadiya has repeatedly dined the allegations of her father, who has links with saffron elements.