In a distressing incident, a Muslim woman from the Moolganj area faced harassment and abandonment by her family, religious leader, and co-religionists for wearing a saffron stole over her niqab. The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, sought refuge at the police commissioner’s office, clad in a saffron dupatta, where she shared her ordeal with the media.
The woman, who reported her predicament to the Chief Minister on December 23, highlighted issues of harassment and property conflicts. Shockingly, she revealed that she was deemed a Hindu by some, contending that according to Sharia, she was ineligible for any assistance. Her brothers, embroiled in a property dispute with her, allegedly orchestrated her expulsion from the family home.
Allegations of deprivation surfaced as her brothers ceased providing her with basic necessities, confiscating her belongings, and forcibly evicting her from their residence. In a chilling turn of events, she disclosed that she was mocked for wearing the saffron stoll, equated to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and instructed to seek assistance from him due to her purported Hindu conversion.
City cleric Abdul Quddus Haji, initially pledging support, reversed his stance, accusing her of converting to Hinduism and ordering her to leave when she sought help. The victim, now residing with her mother, lamented the loss of her father’s inheritance, including property, cash, and jewelry, all transferred into her brothers’ names.
Despite reaching out to national religious figures, such as Jamiat Ulema e Hind’s president Arshad Madani, the woman found no solace as she was dismissed and told that the issue fell within the purview of local authorities. Audio evidence of her conversation with Madani has been presented to the media.
In response to her plight, the police commissioner’s office has initiated an investigation. Staff officer Ashok Kumar Singh confirmed that the case had been assigned to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Anita Singh. The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and are taking appropriate action.
Meanwhile, the accused cleric, Abdul Quddus Haji, vehemently denies the allegations, questioning the credibility of the accusations and expressing disbelief at being implicated in preventing the woman from meeting the Chief Minister. Investigations are ongoing as the community awaits further developments in this troubling case.
