Kerala woman wants freedom of religion, choice of marriage

New Delhi, Feb 21 (DHNS): A Kerala woman, whose marriage to a Muslim man was annulled after being termed love jihad, has told the Supreme Court she wanted to exercise her freedom of religion and choice of marriage.

In an affidavit, Akhila, who was renamed Hadiya after conversion, contended that she was a Muslim and wanted to live like a Muslim.

She also sought permission to live with her husband Shafin Jahan as a couple because she embraced Islam and married him on her own free will.

"I have been under confinement without the freedom that I am entitled to. Even now I am under police surveillance. I most humbly pray that my entire liberty may kindly be restored to me," her 25-page affidavit stated.

A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra had in November sent the 25-year-old woman to Salem in Tamil Nadu to pursue her studies after taking her out of the custody of parents.

Her father Asokan K M had alleged that her husband was merely a "stooge" in a "well-organised conversion machinery". The court had earlier on January 23 questioned the NIA, probing instances of love jihad and larger conspiracy into such marriages in Kerala.