By Pervez Bari,
Bhopal, 22 Sept. 2014: Adv. Haji Mohammad Haroon, president of Madhya Pradesh unit of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, has urged the Government of India, Supreme Court of India and National & State Human Rights Commissions to take immediate cognisance of the misuse of Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 1968 in the state. He demanded immediate action against the Shivpuri district administration and trouble monger Hindutva forces, which indulged in violation of the Act, so that the democratic and human rights of the people of Madhya Pradesh could be saved.
Haji Haroon, who is also ex-president of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee’s Minority Department, has described the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act as against freedom of religion. He said that this Act is totally contrary to the spirit of the Indian Constitution and is being misused for committing atrocities and harassment of minorities. Therefore, this Act should be abrogated, he further demanded.
He pointed out that some Muslim converts had visited Shivpuri collectorate recently to complete the formalities of conversion of religion. They were not only prevented from this but also some Hindutva organisations forcefully decimated their new religious identity. Instead of giving protection to the Muslim converts, Shivpuri district collector registered an FIR and jailed them. The way justice, law and human rights have been violated in this case, is quite contrary to right to freedom and its preaching given by the Constitution of India, he added.
Meanwhile, it may be recalled here that nine members of a Dalit family in Shivpuri district of central Indian state Madhya Pradesh were allegedly prevented from voluntarily converting to Islam in the first week of this month as the officials were not ready to accept their affidavit for conversion with scores of activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, (VHP), and Bajrang Dal, affiliated to the ruling Hindu right Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), mobbed the family and created ruckus at the office of District Magistrate.
Four members of the family, who had converted to Islam, were arrested on September 4 hours after they told a court that they had not been forced into adopting another religion. Seven others were held for questioning. Tularam Jatav, his son Keshav and relatives Manikram and Makhubhai Jatav were arrested under the state’s Freedom of Religion Act, which allows conversions only if the district administration has verified that they are not forced. Those wanting to change their religion have to seek the state’s permission. All four, if found guilty, face two years in jail.
It may be mentioned here that when the Jatav family went to a district magistrate with affidavits affirming that they were converting willingly, a large group of activists from VHP and Bajrang Dal arrived too, and started protesting and chanting slogans. Later, an FIR was filed against the Jatavs and a team was sent to their house.
Government officials had said the Jatavs appear to have violated the law, as the probe team had learnt that they had switched to Islam months ago without informing the government.
It is said that Tularam Jatav reportedly converted to Islam two years ago, but retracted the move to settle a property dispute. Last year, he reportedly converted to Islam again, this time along with his son and two relatives.
Others in their village went to the police on August 28 and alleged that forced conversions were taking place in the family. The Jatavs denied it twice, but shortly after they tried to submit affidavits in a court, they were held. ([email protected])
