India state Uttar Pradesh Approves a Law that Bans Forceful Religious Conversion by Marriage

The Uttar Pradesh ruling party (BJP) has approved an ordinance that lays out a prison term of up to 10 years for forced religious conversion after marriage. 

As per the official resources, the law has been approved and granted by the state cabinet after the meeting held by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Most of the BJP ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh have revealed their interest in the same ordinance to control the forced conversion of Hindu women by Muslim men, in the name of love and marriage. The “Love Jihad” is a term that is used by the right-wing to describe the attempt of Muslim men to lure Hindu girls for marriage and then conversion.

The Cabinet minister and UP government spokesperson Sidharth Nath Singh stated: “The way in which religious conversions are done using deceit, lies, force, and dishonesty is heart-wrenching, and it was necessary to have a law in this regard.” 

He also cleared that the new law imposed a jail term for one to five years and a fine of Rs. 15,000. But in the cases of scheduled caste women or minor girls, the jail terms would be three to five years with a fine of Rs.25, 000. 

“In the case of mass conversions, the punishment is from three years to 10 years and a fine of Rs.50,000 on the organizations which indulge in it,” the minister said.

But the spokesman Mr. Singh has cleared that those who want to convert with their will can change their religion after marriage. But the person who needs to inform the District Magistrate should be informed two months before conversion using the prescription for and then the permission will be granted by the court. This ordinance is said to be a great step towards the ordeal of law and order problems.

Under this decree, the couple belonging to two different religions and faiths can marry only after the approval of the district magistrate if the conversion is involved.