There has been silence from the State Women’s Commission and the State Human Rights Commission in CPI(M)-ruled Kerala. Communal forces of the extreme Hindu kind have used the tragic, extra legal confinement of a woman, and reportedly violent incarceration to fuel hate sentiments against Muslims and Islam. Hadiya, 23, allegedly illegally confined to her home simply because she exercised her right as an autonomous woman.
Today, at 12 noon well known public intellectuals, J Devika and Sachidanand are addressing a press conference on the issue in Thiruvanthapuram. “These elements have sought to infuse fresh life into the dangerous Love Jihad discourse through this case. Far from being just an attempt to malign the present government led by the CPI-M, this is threatening now to undermine the relatively peaceful coexistence of communities in Kerala,: says Devika. A complaint to the State Women’s Commission has also been made.
Hadiya, illegally confined to her home through brute force is apparently being coerced and beaten.
The complaint to the SWC states that, “When six women sought to visit her with onam gifts on August 30, 2017, he refused to allow them in, and Smt Ponnamma abused them verbally. These women have persistently claimed that they saw Dr Hadiya stand near the window and heard her call for help, and that she complained of being beaten. Though these visitors did not enter the premises and were on their way back, they were slapped with charges of unlawful assembly and criminal trespass at the behest of Mr Asokan.”
Further, it states that, “ On 27 August 2017, Dr Hadiya sent a message to her chosen partner Shafin entreating him to help her. The message was sent from her mother’s phone, and it appears that her access to it was temporary.”
Teesta Setalvad has extended her support and issued the following statement: “The confinement of Hadiya,by all accounts, forceful and coercive has not only played into the dangerous communal discourse of Love Jehad but is a serious assault on the autonomy and equality of a woman. Articles 14 and 21, apart from 25 have been seriously flouted. The fact that this set of crimes–there are even reports of her being beaten while in her parent’s custody–are being multiplied manifold by the behaviour of the Kerala police and rhe silence of an otherwise vocal state government makes matters worse. We endorse all attempts to raise voices Against this injustice.”