Hadiya case: Conversions of A.R. Rahman, Muhammed Ali, Kamala Surayya cited

Not all who embrace Islam are victims of indoctrination, says an affidavit filed by Popular Front of India leader.

CHENNAI, 30/10/2017 : Hadiya. Photo : Special Arrangement

Oscar-winning music composer A.R. Rahman, boxing legend Muhammed Ali and poetess Kamala Surayya have found a mention in the Hadiya case before the Supreme Court.

The Hadiya case involves a 26-year-old homoeopathy student in Kerala, who converted to Islam and subsequently married a Muslim man. The State High Court annulled the marriage. Hadiya was later set free from the custody of her father by the Supreme Court. The apex court is now examining the question whether a court can annul marriages between adults and intervene in a woman’s right to choose her husband.

Sainaba A.S. of the women’s wing of the Popular Front of India highlighted these reputed names in the apex court to prove a point that not all who embrace Islam are victims of radicalisation or indoctrination.

In an affidavit filed before a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Ms. Sainaba said “a number of world-renowned intellectuals and personalities from different walks of life have embraced Islam all over the world and nobody can say that they so embraced Islam because of indoctrination, brainwashing, radicalisation, etc.”

“Madhavikutty [a famous poetess hailing from Kerala itself], who embraced Islam at the age of 65 and since changed her name as Kamala Surayya, A.R. Rahman, the world famous musician and prestigious Oscar Award winner, who embraced Islam along with his family and Muhammed Ali [formerly Casius Clay], who is a former world champion in boxing, are only a few in the series,” the affidavit said.

NIA’s charge

Ms. Sainaba was responding to allegations earlier made by the National Investigation Agency and Hadiya’s father that young women like Hadiya are “brainwashed” and nudged into conversion by a “well-oiled network.”

Ms. Sainaba’s name was referred as being directly involved in the Hadiya case.

She said that no court in the country had prevented Hadiya from embracing Islam or continuing as a Muslim or getting married as per her will or preventing anybody from assisting her in her marriage with a boy of her choice. “There has never been any prohibitory injunction or order, whatsoever at all, from any court,” the affidavit said.