A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly has handed down a life sentence to a 25-year-old man for coercing a 20-year-old woman to convert to Islam and marry him. The convict, who initially presented himself as a Hindu named Anand Kumar, had concealed his true Muslim identity as Mohammed Aalim Ahmed. His father has also been sentenced to two years in prison and fined ₹1 lakh. This verdict marks the first life sentence awarded under the Uttar Pradesh government’s stringent Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Act, implemented just two months ago.
The victim, who had met the accused at a computer coaching institute, described her ordeal in a statement to the magistrate. She revealed that the accused had portrayed himself as a Hindu, even wearing a red thread on his right hand, to gain her trust. They entered into a relationship, and the accused even took her to a temple where he applied sindoor (vermilion) on her forehead, mimicking a Hindu marriage ceremony.
However, the woman’s suspicions were aroused when the accused took her to his village in Bareilly. There, she discovered his true identity as a Muslim and that his family pressured her to convert to Islam before a formal marriage according to Islamic traditions. When she refused, the accused’s family subjected her to further pressure and coercion.
The fast-track court judge, Ravi Kumar Diwakar, delivered the verdict, highlighting the severity of the crime. He sent copies of the verdict to the state police chief, Chief Secretary, and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Bareilly, directing them to ensure the accused is booked under the provisions of the Unlawful Conversion of Religion law of Uttar Pradesh.
The case sheds light on the controversial anti-conversion law in Uttar Pradesh. In July 2024, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which significantly increased the penalties for forced conversions. The new law introduced life imprisonment as a potential punishment for deceiving a woman into marriage or converting her religion, a drastic increase from the previous penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a ₹50,000 fine. This landmark verdict underscores the seriousness with which the Uttar Pradesh government is enforcing this new legislation, sending a strong message against religious coercion and manipulation.
