Love Jihad: Threat to communal harmony

Just two days back, a Delhi woman complained of sexual exploitation by a man she intended to marry, Rahul alias Faisal. While she was in love, it was yet another act of deceit: Love Jihad. Love Jihad is a term used for the Muslim men targeting Hindu women to convert to Islam, with various tactics such as faking love, seduction, deception, kidnapping, and marriage. While some people might choose to call it just another religious conspiracy theory by the right-wing activists, Love Jihad has become a recent reality. According to the Vishwa Hindu Parshad (VHP), there were around 400 alleged Love Jihad cases by December 2022. The highest surge was observed in Kerala since 2009, among other parts of the country. Here is a take on Love Jihad, its causes and prevalence, with the rise in communalism, and how the social evil has gripped Madhya Pradesh.    

Love Jihad is a part of the broader state of a "war" between the Hindus and Muslims in India, more of an offshoot of the ongoing religious conflict between Hindus and Muslims. It gets in deeper with communalism, poverty, conservatism, and when 'religion' is preached wrong: 

As communalism firms its feet in the country, social evils like Love Jihad continue to prevail. Unless the religious interests continue to be prioritized, national interests will always be sidelined. The divisions widen with mistrust, leading to violent conflicts. Love Jihad can be just one act of extremism: 

Rising in areas with high poverty: Love Jihad is mostly observed in areas with high poverty, where there is a lack of education, be it the primary schooling or the religious thought. It is when they aren't well aware of their religion that they readily accept what is preached to them, irrespective of the dire consequences after committing the crime. 

Orthodox, rural mindset: Such social evils continue to lurk in places where people still stick to a rural, orthodox mindset. While their conservative approach never tends to flinch a bit, there are so-called 'caretakers' and 'messiahs' who lie in wait to mislead them. The naive and less informed population falls prey to them and follows the misguided path.  

Religion: Muslim men who are practicing Love Jihad claim it to be a 'reward' equivalent to the same attainment after a visit to Mecca. Befriending a non-muslim woman and trapping her to an extent wherein she converts to their religion is what they strive for as a step closer to God. The women here are captives/slaves for them, with whom they tend to establish a sexual relationship. This is never encouraged or preached by Islam, and is unlawful and unethical. 

According to Sharia (Islamic law), if a Muslim man wishes to marry a non-muslim woman (other than a Christian or Jew), she must convert to Islam. If not, then the marriage is not considered legitimate. And a muslim woman shall never marry a non-muslim man[1]. But again, Islam doesn't encourage deception or permit forced conversion. 

Interfaith marriages have long been a part of Indian culture. Hindus-Muslims, Muslims-Christians, Hindus-Christians, there have been marriages across the caste and religions, which have been well accepted in society. But why is it that due to some mishappenings and anti-social elements, inter-faith relationships are looked upon or disregarded? Not only the inter-religious marriages, but even inter-caste marriages aren't acceptable. 

Hindu-Muslim marriages are still thriving despite the obstacles. Be it Mohsin and Reema, Naved and Mukta, or any other just like them who dream, love, and hope. But today, their love is only a distant dream because they cannot live it. In such cases, the woman's testimony is never accepted, however much she confesses or stays firm in her love. 

Interfaith marriage is more of a community issue, which isn't acceptable for any other religion than one's own. But people must realise that everyone can choose their religion and who they choose as a partner. Even in the ruling in the Hadiya case, the Supreme Court stated that every adult has the right to choose their partner and the religion to follow.  

The recent spike in 'Love Jihad' in Madhya Pradesh 

Until very recently, there has been a significant rise in Love Jihad cases in Madhya Pradesh. The current pattern of Love Jihad is befriend, blackmail, and rape of Hindu women in the state. Not only the smaller towns, but Love Jihad has also gripped the capital city of Bhopal. Hindu women are first befriended, then sexually exploited, and blackmailed with their obscene videos, forcing them to convert. Within a few months this year, as many as 12 suspects have been arrested by the MP police from various cities.

Social activist Kanishka Bhargava reflects upon Love Jihad, saying, "The irony is that you never know. It starts with friendship, then love, and forms of deception. They become 'one of you'. The man would go to the temple, wear a kalva, and be just like you. The girl and her family never realize that he is a Muslim. And when one comes to know, the train is already off the track. They are manipulated with claims of 'love' and are convinced. Somehow they marry, and then comes 'forceful conversion'. If not, they are either raped, put to prostitution or sent to Gulf countries. Life turns into a dead end for them."  

The recent cases include: 

An organized Love Jihad gang targeted Hindu college girls belonging to smaller towns and villages, studying in Bhopal. Five men have been arrested so far after a victim reached out to the police, busting the gang. 

A divorced woman fell victim to a man who first befriended her, then raped her a multiple times promising her marriage. Later on, he demanded the woman's conversion to Islam and the circumcision of her 14-year-old son if she wanted to get married. 

Kanishka Bhargava adds, "These men are always in search of soft targets, who can be manipulated easily. You will find them trapping young college girls, mostly those away from family, and women who are either single or have unhappy marriages. Moreover, after falling into trouble, their families also turn their backs on the women, and they have nowhere to go." 

Not only men, but even a woman concealed her Muslim identity and married a Hindu man in Jabalpur. On the day of the marriage, the woman and her lover killed the man and fled with his money and all the jewelry. There was no conversion, but it involves deceit and murder. 

States like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, among others, have passed laws to combat forced conversion. There is also a demand for one in Madhya Pradesh. 

The Director General of Police (DGP) has also given strict instructions to the school and college administrations to stay connected with the police. Any kind of suspicious activity, especially concerning girls, shall be reported then and there. The DGP has also suggested the appointment of a nodal officer in the educational institution who can mediate and keep a watch on such activities. 

Do you know why we continued to be slaves of the British? Because we weren't united in 1857. That's what the Britishers sensed early on, and sowed the seed of 'Divide and Rule'. They left two centuries later, and today, the religious fanatics are doing something similar. It is time to break this vicious cycle; it is time when citizens of the country rise together as Indians, rather than as Hindus or Muslims. Then only such criminal minds will be brought to their knees, and India will be united.