The accused denies charges and claims financial motives behind her arrest
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The recent celebration of Eid Al-Fitr was overshadowed by a controversy in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. A 40-year-old Muslim woman, Shahnaz, was arrested after a Hindu man accused her of attempting to convert his 16-year-old daughter to Islam by encouraging her to observe fasts during the holy month of Ramadan.
The case began on March 13 when the father of the girl filed a First Information Report (FIR), alleging that two Muslim women, including Shahnaz, had lured his daughter into fasting during Ramadan with promises of blessings and financial benefits. “They lured my daughter and made her believe that if she keeps the fast, there will be blessings in her house. She will become rich, and they will provide her with proper help,” the father stated in his report.
The girl’s identity has been withheld to protect her privacy. According to the complainant, the girl observed three to four fasts and also offered namaz during Ramadan. The situation escalated on March 13 when Shahnaz allegedly entered the family’s house and tried to take her own life by hanging herself in a room belonging to the father’s brother. The family, concerned for her safety, called the police, but Shahnaz fled, allegedly threatening to file a false case against them.
The arrival of Hindu right-wing activists added to the tension, with accusations of forced conversion being levelled against Muslim women. The police subsequently filed charges under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and added other sections, including threats of violence and property damage.
Shahnaz, however, denies the accusations and claims the entire incident was fabricated due to a financial dispute. In her bail plea, she stated that the Hindu family had borrowed Rs 50,000 but had failed to repay it. Shahnaz explained that after several attempts to get her money back, she visited the family’s house on March 13. “When I went there to ask for my money, the neighbour’s brother locked me in a room and molested me,” she said. “When I screamed, the neighbours gathered,” she added, accusing the family of conspiring with right-wing groups to create a false story.
Shahnaz vehemently denied that she encouraged the girl to fast or convert to Islam. “If the girl had observed fasts, the family would have known about it,” she said. “Roza requires a person to eat before sunrise and break the fast at sunset. If she had kept even one roza, her family would have known about it.”
Despite Shahnaz’s claims, the case has entered a legal phase. On March 26, the Additional Sessions Judge of Jhansi, Vijay Kumar Verma, rejected Shahnaz’s bail plea, stating that as a neighbour of the victim, Shahnaz could influence witnesses or evidence. The court’s decision has generated varied opinions, with some questioning the fairness of the legal proceedings, while others believe the charges against Shahnaz need to be fully investigated.
This case will likely continue to draw attention, as it touches on sensitive issues surrounding religious conversion, communal tensions, and personal grievances. The accusations raise important questions about the line between religious practices and potential coercion, as well as the role financial disputes can play in escalating conflicts.
