Bareilly court verdict shows deeply ingrained propaganda on love jihad 'affecting' judiciary

By Ram Puniyani* 

On October 1st, a Bareilly court sentenced a Muslim man to life imprisonment following a complaint of sexual assault, labeling the case as one of "love jihad." The judge remarked that the prosecution had not adequately presented the case in this context. Notably, the complainant, a Hindu woman, later withdrew her statement, citing pressure from Hindutva groups. 

However, the judge dismissed her retraction, suggesting a broader social narrative influenced his ruling. Judge Diwakar commented that Muslim men specifically target Hindu women for marriage with the ulterior motive of converting them to Islam.

In essence, "love jihad" refers to the alleged practice of Muslim men pretending to love Hindu women to convert them to Islam upon marriage. The judge's ruling introduced a controversial idea regarding “foreign funding” for love jihad which remains unsubstantiated. It raises questions about which specific countries might be allegedly involved in financing this phenomenon.

Initially propagated by certain Christian bishops in Kerala a couple of decades ago, the narrative of love jihad gained traction among Hindu nationalists. This narrative has been fueled by a well-organized propaganda machine involving groups like the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), a network of media, and targeted social media campaigns. Investigations have found that claims regarding organized funding for "love jihad" are unfounded.

Several motivations have been attributed to the discourse surrounding love jihad. A prevalent theme is demographic anxiety, fueled by the stereotype that Muslim families are prolific—having "four wives and twenty children"—and fears of demographic shifts. Claims have also been made that Hindu women are being groomed to join extremist groups such as ISIS.

The love jihad narrative is often linked to patriarchal values intertwined with nationalism as expressed through religion. This dynamic reflects a troubling correlation between the rise of communal politics in India and an increase in violence against women. 

Activist Teesta Setalvad highlights that women from targeted communities are often portrayed as symbols of community honor and become specific victims in communal violence, which has historical precedence in events surrounding partition and various riots throughout Indian history.

Historian Charu Gupta notes that the claim of an organized love jihad is a mechanism used to control women's lives. This mirrors earlier campaigns, such as those in the 1920s against alleged abductions, where Hindu women were depicted as passive victims of Muslim aggression. Such misrepresentations ignore women's autonomy and their rightful choices in love.

There are cases where Hindu men have faced violence for loving Muslim women, highlighting toxic impact of the divisive narrative

The discourse surrounding love jihad has had significant social ramifications. Groups like Bajrang Dal have been observed conducting campaigns urging Hindu families to monitor their daughters closely, further exacerbating tensions. 

Numerous instances have emerged where Muslim men have been physically attacked based on this propaganda, such as the tragic case of Rizwan Khan, who was murdered due to his relationship with Priyanka Todi. Conversely, there are also cases where Hindu men have faced violence for loving Muslim women, highlighting the toxic impact of this divisive narrative.

The situation of Hadiya (originally Akhila Arunan), who converted to Islam after developing friendships within the community, is particularly instructive. After marrying Shafik Jahan, her father sought custody, claiming she had been indoctrinated and might join ISIS. Ultimately, the Supreme Court recognized her autonomy and allowed her to live with her husband.

In Kerala, a trend has emerged where yoga centers pressure Hindu women intending to marry Muslim men to return to their original faith and abandon their relationships. Many women have reported experiencing coercion and manipulation in such scenarios.

The judgment mentioned above reflects how deeply ingrained propaganda affects various sectors of society, including the judiciary, which should base decisions on concrete evidence. This underscores the urgent need to confront and challenge societal narratives around love and inter-religious relationships.

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*Political commentator. A version of this article was first published in The Wire