In a shocking incident that has raised concerns over religious intolerance, an interfaith couple was brutally attacked at the Kuvanoor mosque in Manjeswaram, Kasaragod district, Kerala. The attack reportedly stemmed from dissatisfaction among local Muslim leaders regarding the couple’s marriage and the bride’s refusal to convert to Islam.
Abdul Nizamudheen, a local IT business owner, and his Hindu wife, Anjali, were summoned to the mosque under the pretense of resolving a dispute involving a relative of Nizamudheen. However, upon their arrival at the mosque premises, the couple was assaulted by a group of men. The attackers poured hot water on the couple, beat them on their heads, and verbally abused Anjali for entering the mosque without wearing a burka and for not converting to Islam after her marriage.
According to Nizamudheen, the attack was premeditated, as hot water was prepared in advance. He further alleged that the assailants touched his wife inappropriately, shouting that he had betrayed his faith by marrying a Hindu woman and bringing her to the mosque in traditional Hindu attire. The couple managed to escape and sought refuge in a nearby temple, where they believe their lives were saved.
The attackers also vandalized the couple’s car and snatched Anjali’s electronic pamphlet. Disturbingly, they circulated footage of the assault on social media, labeling it as “punishment for blasphemy.”
The incident has sparked outrage, with many describing it as a “Taliban-style” attack, highlighting the dangers faced by non-Muslims in an increasingly intolerant environment. Nizamudheen has filed a police complaint, and a case has been registered against nineteen individuals involved in the attack. The investigation is ongoing.
Anjali, speaking to the media, described the attack as not only brutal but also a grave insult to her womanhood. Nizamudheen echoed her sentiments, stating that they narrowly escaped death by fleeing to the temple.
