The woman said that because of her conversion to Islam she and her family were being targeted
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the police to ensure security is given to the woman from Saharanpur who converted to Islam from Hinduism as she had alleged harassment from police, media and Hindutva right-wing supporters.
According to the Hindustan Times, the vacation bench of Justice C Hari Shankar refrained from expressing opinion on the correctness of the averments made in the case but said that since the petitioner is a young girl it deemed “it appropriate to issue a limited direction to adequately ensure to protect the life and safety of the petitioner.”
The bench added that the matter should be appropriately taken by the regular bench as per the roster.
Advocate Samir Washit representing Delhi Police, including SHO of Jamia Nagar, said that the woman did not give the correct address and phone number.
However, advocate Tanya Aggarwal, appearing for the young woman, said that her client is regularly changing addresses in view of the threats she is facing. She assured the court that the police would be provided the current address and phone number.
The woman said that because of her conversion to Islam she and her family were being targeted. She pleaded for gag on publishing malicious content in the media.
“The petitioner (woman) is an adult and she is protected by the Constitution to choose her own faith and she cannot be targeted and harassed for the choice she makes with regard to the religion she follows,” said the petition, filed through advocate Kamlesh Kumar Mishra.
According to the plea, Renu Gangwar converted to Islam in May and took the name of Ayesha Alvi. She said since June 23 when she was in Shahjahanpur she has started getting calls from the media requesting her for a meeting. Despite her refusal, media persons descended at her place and clicked her pictures and videos without her permission. They threatened her that they would get her arrested if she did not allow them to publish the news of her conversion in the press. They also demanded money from her, she alleges in the petition.
One of the media persons forcefully took Rs20,000 from her. Media has published absurd and imaginary details about her conversion, Ayesha says in the plea.
She further says that she had filed written requests to Delhi Police for protection but did not get it.
The plea sought direction from the court to the police to ensure she is not taken away forcefully from Delhi by any government agency or person.
