Lucknow: On Tuesday, the Allahabad High Court denied the bail plea of Azeem, an individual accused of forcibly converting a girl to Islam and sexually exploiting her, while clarifying that religious freedom does not extend to a collective right to convert others. The court upheld the intent of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, stating that it is designed to protect religious freedom and promote social harmony in India.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, who presided over the case, emphasized that while the Indian Constitution grants individuals the right to profess, practice, and propagate their religion, this right is personal and does not encompass the right to convert others. The court highlighted that religious freedom must be equally respected for both the person converting and the person being converted.
Azeem had filed a petition in the High Court, claiming false implication, asserting that the girl had voluntarily entered into a relationship with him and had confirmed their marriage in official statements. However, the government lawyer opposing the bail pointed to the girl's statement under Section 164 of the CrPC, which indicated that she had been pressured to convert to Islam and forced into a marriage without her consent.
The court took into account the girl's statement that Azeem and his family had coerced her to accept Islam, participate in Islamic rituals, and witness the sacrifice of animals during Bakrid. Furthermore, the court noted that Azeem failed to provide any evidence that the proper legal procedure for conversion, as required under the 2021 Act, was followed before the alleged marriage.
Given these findings, the court concluded that there was a prima facie case of violation of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and dismissed Azeem's bail application.
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