Forcing wife to convert to Islam after marriage is cruelty : Madras HC

Case of Muslim husband forcing Hindu wife to convert to Islam

Chennai – The Madras High Court, in a landmark judgment on a petition filed by a Muslim husband, has said that if a husband or wife is forced to convert to another religion in an interfaith marriage, it will be considered cruelty. The Court said that doing so is against Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and Article 25 (Right to Religion) of the Constitution. (For Muslims with a Jihadi mindset, the life or personal liberty of others has no value. It is just ‘Love Jihad’ – Editor).

Forcing the wife to convert to I$|am after marriage is cruelty! – Madras High Court 🏛

📌 A case of a Mu$|!m husband forcing his Hindu wife to convert to I$|am!

The J!h@di mindset of certain Mu$|!ms does not value the lives or personal freedom of others. It is not wrong to say… pic.twitter.com/RjHd6thwob

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) January 30, 2025

1. The Court has said that if a person is not given the freedom to believe and practice his religion, it seriously affects her quality of life and she becomes lifeless. The Court has also said that forcing someone to change religion in the name of marriage weakens the very foundation of marriage.

2. The Hindu wife of the Muslim accused had sought divorce on two grounds of cruelty and abandonment. On this, the Family Court had ordered the annulment of the marriage with the Hindu wife. This order was challenged by the accused Muslim husband in the Madras High Court. The wife alleged that her husband was constantly forcing her to convert to Islam and insulting her based on her caste, as she was a Hindu.

3. The High Court has said in its judgment that the Muslim husband continuously tortured his wife physically and mentally, changed her name and forced her to convert to Islam.

4. The Court has said that the husband’s behaviour caused serious mental distress to the wife, hurting her faith and conscience.

5. The Court, while allowing divorce on the grounds of cruelty and abandonment, said that forcing someone to convert without their consent is tantamount to committing violence.