Another troubling case of forced religious conversion has emerged from Jamia Millia Islamia, a central government-funded institution located in the heart of Delhi. This time, the victim is a Divyang student. Previously, on July 17, 2024, Organiser reported a similar case where a Dalit employee was reportedly pressured by senior officials to convert to Islam.
The victim here is a student named Namita (name changed), who was admitted to the journalism program at Jamia Millia Islamia after excelling in the entrance exams and interview. Initially excited to embark on her academic journey, her aspirations were soon overshadowed by targeted harassment. A promising student who, despite her disability, aimed to build a career in media, Namita now finds herself traumatised, enduring repeated abuse and even sexual harassment. After coming forward to expose the relentless pressure to convert, she now faces rape and other severe threats to her safety.
Some have reportedly warned her, saying, “Don’t you remember the Kolkata rape case? Those who refuse to wear the hijab face the same fate.” That case remains under investigation, and with the increasing threats and pressure on this new complainant, Organiser has decided to publish this report prior to the formal registration of an FIR.
Divyang woman forced to convert
In her complaint letter dated October 19, to the police, the victim told, “I am reaching out to seek your help regarding a deeply distressing pattern of harassment, intimidation, and coercion that I have endured on campus for over a year. This situation has not only impacted my mental well-being but has also put immense pressure on me and my family, seemingly aimed at compelling me to convert to Islam.”
Namita recounted, “It all began on July 10, 2023, when I started receiving inappropriate phone calls. Later, I discovered that my phone number had been circulated around Jamia Nagar by one Ibnay Saud. Since then, perverted calls have become a constant intrusion, stripping away my privacy and leaving me exposed.”
Adding to her distress, she reported being subjected to relentless mockery about her religious beliefs. “A steady stream of derogatory comments about Hinduism and the Ram Mandir became routine,” Namita shared. “It soon became clear that these incidents were part of a larger effort to belittle me based on my faith.”
Namita’s complaint further highlights how one Danish Iqbal, with assistance from another student, instigated rumours to isolate her socially. She recounted an incident in August 2023, when both Iqbal and Mir Kasim unjustly detained her and other students for an academic year. “They used their authority to control and silence those who spoke up. It was like an invisible cage designed to break our resolve,” Namita explained.
Her academic journey faced yet another setback on May 14, 2024, when an exam was unexpectedly scheduled to clash with her pre-scheduled viva. “As a differently-abled student, I needed special accommodations, but these were systematically denied,” she said, describing the event as an apparent attempt to sabotage her academic progress.
The harassment further escalated on August 20, 2024, when she was falsely accused of failing to meet attendance requirements. “Letters citing noncompliance were sent to my home, even though I had met the attendance criteria,” Namita claimed, suggesting that her name was deliberately omitted from the attendance sheet under Kasim’s instructions to undermine her credibility.
“On May 16, 2024, I was even coerced into paying an illegal fee,” Namita stated. Her attempts to address these issues legally, including a formal notice sent on June 10, were ignored by the university.
The emotional toll on Namita intensified when, from July 26 onward, she noticed Saud stalking her around campus. “He would appear suddenly in the canteen, near the old studio, or on his bike outside the premises, creating a terrifying atmosphere,” she recounted.
In August 2024, Iqbal publicly mocked her dyslexia in class, with derogatory comments about her disability. “Their goal seemed to be not just to harass me but to target Hindu girls like myself,” Namita asserted, noting that these actions appeared designed to alienate her from the student body.
The harassment took a more institutionalised form on September 2, 2024, when she was summoned to the Proctor’s office. “For nearly four hours, I was pressured to retract my complaint,” she said. The officials, she claimed, justified the discriminatory practices, suggesting pepper spray as a solution for women’s safety rather than addressing her concerns seriously.
Hijab will bring “Noor”
Even her family was not spared; on August 24, university officials allegedly approached her parents, emotionally manipulating them to convince her to withdraw her complaints. The situation took a darker turn on October 12, when Namita was instructed to wear a hijab, with an ominous warning that failing to comply could lead to severe consequences. “They implied that a girl who did not wear a hijab had been raped, suggesting that my safety depended on following Islamic practices,” she recalled, recounting how officials mentioned that wearing a hijab would bring “noor” (blessings) into her life.
Reflecting on these events, Namita said, “The harassment was not limited to psychological manipulation. It included sexual intimidation, relentless remarks meant to degrade my beliefs, and attempts to destroy my identity as a Hindu woman. The impact on my mental and emotional health has been profound.”
Concluding the complaint, she added, “As a differently-abled student, I expected support, not cruelty. I am reaching out, not just for justice but to reclaim my right to a safe and respectful educational environment. Swift action is needed, for my personal safety and my religious freedom are both at stake.”
Legal notice to the victim
Rather than addressing the serious allegations raised by the victim or initiating an investigation, Jamia Millia Islamia’s administration has reportedly taken a different approach by sending a legal notice to Namita through the university’s standing legal counsel on October 26. The letter appears to pressurise the victim, warning her to retract her complaint or face a defamation lawsuit.
The defamation notice specifically references a video statement the victim shared with Crime Tak on September 6, 2024. In this video, she detailed her grievances, including alleged instances of harassment and coercion. However, the university’s legal counsel has dismissed these allegations, categorically claiming them to be false and groundless.
However, Police are preparing to investigate and register a complaint in the latest forced conversion case at Jamia Millia Islamia. However, questions remain: What consequences will the accused face?
Dalit man forced to bring ‘Iman’
The case mirrors the ordeal of Ram Niwas, a Dalit employee at Jamia, who faced similar pressure to convert to Islam. Working as an assistant in the Department of Natural Science, he told Organiser how he has faced relentless harassment from senior officials, including caste-based slurs and intimidation.
Ram Niwas’s complaint named Professor Nazim Hussain Al-Jafri, the Registrar, Deputy Registrar M. Nasim Haider, and Professor Shahid Tasleem as accused. The FIR, filed under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, was registered at Jamia Nagar Police Station in South-East Delhi on July 15, 2024, under FIR No. 249/2024.
In the FIR, Ram Niwas described disturbing incidents of discrimination. “They made my life miserable,” he told, recounting his treatment on campus. He shared that Professor Al-Jafri repeatedly pressured him to convert, saying, “Ram Niwas Sahab, aap yahan roti bhi kha rahe hain, aur yahi ke paise se aapke bachche bhi pal rahe hain” (You earn your livelihood here, your children are raised with the money you make here). Al-Jafri reportedly added, “Iman le aao sab theek kar dunga” (Bring faith, and I will fix everything).
In another instance, Ram Niwas recalled a conversation where Al-Jafri allegedly told him that embracing Islam would bring not only peace but security for his children’s futures. “Kalma padh lo, sab kuch theek chalega,” Al-Jafri supposedly said. “Jamia ne Sachin ko Muhammad Ali banakar uski life set kar di” (Jamia transformed Sachin into Muhammad Ali and secured his life with a permanent job because he embraced faith).
The FIR also detailed verbal abuses used by Al-Jafri, including caste-based slurs: “Tum Chamar, Bhangi, neech jaati se belong karte ho. Tum log aukat mein nahi rehte ho” (You belong to a lower caste, and people like you don’t know their place). The harassment didn’t stop there. Ram Niwas describes how Jafri humiliated him by questioning his loyalty, going so far as to say, “Jamia ek Muslim University hai, yeh mat bhulo” (Jamia is a Muslim university; don’t forget that).
Adding to these charges, Deputy Registrar M. Nasim Haider is also accused of collaborating against Ram Niwas. Haider told him, “Main tumhara complaint ko kabhi band nahi hone dunga. Tumne Jamia ka minority status ko challenge kiya hai aur iska natija tumhe bhugtana padega” (I will never close your complaint. You challenged Jamia’s minority status, and you will pay the price for it).
Despite the gravity of these allegations, no action has been taken against the officials involved to date. On the contrary, they remain in their positions, with some even receiving promotions. Meanwhile, Ram Niwas, who bravely chose to expose the manipulation and oppression, has had to go on leave amid fears of fabricated charges and retaliatory actions aimed at his suspension.
This case, combined with the recent forced conversion allegations involving a Divyang student, raises critical concerns over the campus environment and the university’s response to such complaints.
A spate of such cases
It’s notable that Jamia Millia Islamia is witnessing a trend where religious conversions appear increasingly common, with Organiser having details of over 20 Hindu individuals who joined the university and subsequently converted to Islam. This list includes those who reportedly converted for different reasons—some to secure permanent employment, others for promotions, and some due to pressure from the campus environment. Here are a few examples:
The list of conversions at Jamia Millia Islamia includes Suchitra Sen Gupta, now referred to as Adnan’s wife, is associated with the Department of Political Science, while Sujaata Ashvarya Chima, now Mujeeb Ahmad’s wife, is affiliated with the Centre for West Asian Studies. Prachi Shukla has married Yusuf Khan, and Arvinder Kaur Ansari is now the spouse of Aijaz Ahmad Ansari. Mary Tahir, connected to the Geography department, is married to Tahir, and Sunita Ali Zaidi is the wife of Inayat Ali Zaidi. Manisha Sethi is married to Tanweer Fazal, and Ali Muhammad, originally Sachin and son of Kishan Singh, has also converted.
Kapil Dhingra, affiliated with the Education department, is now the spouse of Sarfaraz, who serves as a PGT in Chemistry. Sonia Chaudhary from the Architecture Department and Vijeta Bhamri from Fine Arts are now respectively linked to Chand Mohammad. Additionally, Meena Osmany is the wife of Mohammad Ajmal Khan. Charu Gupta, a Primary School Teacher, has recently married Javed Ali, while Anil, now known as Abdullah, holds an Associate Professor position. Sapna Mishra, who completed her MSc in Biophysics, converted in 2018, and Girija, now Girija Miyan, is married to Mohammad Miyan. Others include Shaad, who has undergone a name change, and Shweta Singh Jha from Mass Communication.
These individuals, identified by their original Hindu names, have connections to the university, either through employment or family ties, raising questions about whether their religious conversions were influenced by direct or indirect pressures to sustain peace and secure career stability at the institution.
Attacks on Hindu festivals
A former student, who requested anonymity, told Organiser that “individuals like Sachin were pressured to convert to Islam to get a job.” Since 2020, there have been instances where Hindu festivals, including Diwali and Holi, were celebrated on campus, and some Muslim students actively participated. However, these celebrations reportedly incited backlash from other students, with protests marked by slogans like “Nara-e-Takbir.” In one instance, a woman who wore a burqa and joined Diwali celebrations faced prolonged verbal abuse from fellow students for months afterwards.
A few days ago, slogans of “Palestine Zindabad” were raised by some Muslim students on campus in opposition to Deepawali celebrations.
#UPDATE: Yesterday, students at #JamiaMilliaIslamia organised a pre-Diwali event, ‘Jyotirgamaya 24.’ However, the celebrations were marred by protests and religious sloganeering, with protesters chanting “Allahu Akbar” and, shockingly, “Palestine Zindabad.”
Soon after the video… pic.twitter.com/ZfITz6VfWu
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) October 23, 2024
Following this, another incident occurred targeting the Dalit community during Valmiki Jayanti. The Bharatiya Valmiki Samaj at Jamia was prepared to honour the occasion with an event on campus. However, as members arrived at the entrance carrying a murti of Maharishi Valmiki, they faced resistance, and police were deployed to prevent them from proceeding further. Ultimately, they were left to offer their prayers at the campus gate.
The same source also described an ongoing effort of proselytisation within the university, where some Muslim students and faculty actively participate in dawah (invitation to Islam). This includes efforts to convert Hindu colleagues, often by discussing Islamic views on heaven, hell, and the afterlife. Refusal to convert, they said, sometimes results in social ostracism or labelling individuals as “Hindu terrorists.”
Curious case of Constitutional fraud
It is pertinent to mention here that, Jamia Millia Islamia is a central university under the act of parliament. The institution was also granted a minority institution status in 2011 by the National Council of Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI). However, the fact that the institution was not run or administered by any minority community people was blatantly ignored by the council. The status however is being challenged in the High Court of Delhi, via writ petition.
With the institution becoming a minority institution, the reservation for the scheduled tribes and scheduled caste students were abolished completely in 2011. With this the appointments from these categories were also abolished in 2014, ignoring the court proceedings.
The university became a central university under the Jamia Millia Islamia Act 1988, the university is administered by this act and is funded by the consolidated fund of India. Before 2011, the university used followed the reservation policy of the government of India both in admissions and appointments.
Even after being the matter sub-judice the university closed the SC-ST cell. Since 2014 as many as 200 to 300 appointments have been made in the university in both teaching and non-teaching staff but not a single appointment was made from the deprived community. Apart from the appointments, the institution is also depriving opportunities to students belonging to the SC-ST communities who can get benefits from the institution.
Although the institution is listed as a minority institution but it is still governed by the act of 1988, as per which, the university should be open to all persons and that nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the university from making appropriate provisions for reservations for SC, ST, PH or women.
It is pertinent to mention that, when NCMEI handed over the minority status to the university, not a single member from the scheduled caste or scheduled tribe commission was party to this council. The NCMEI had said in its order, “Jamia was founded by the Muslims for the benefit of Muslims, and it never lost its identity as a Muslim minority educational institution”. It added the University was thus, “covered under Article 30(1), read with Section 2(g) of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act”.
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