India: Muslim Woman Allegedly Assaulted and Confined by Family After Marrying Hindu Man

Bhamashah Chowk Budaun, ArmouredCyborg, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 | Jihad Watch

Budaun: Clad in a red saree, adorned with sindoor and red bangles, and with her head covered by a pallu, 19-year-old Himanshi Kumari appears every bit the traditional Hindu newlywed. Until recently, however, she was known as Hira Naz Bi, a Muslim woman living with her family in Uttar Pradesh's Budaun district.

Her marriage to 21-year-old Atul transformed not only her marital status but also her name and religious identity. The development drew support from Hindutva groups, who hailed it as a case of "ghar wapsi" following police intervention. Meanwhile, residents of Jasma village, located about three kilometres away, have remained largely silent, fearing possible repercussions if they openly express their concerns.

The journey was not easy for Himanshi. According to her, her family strongly opposed her relationship with Atul after learning about their love affair.

"We were in a relationship for nearly three years. We secretly got married in January at an Arya Samaj temple and obtained a live-in relationship certificate. After that, I returned to my parents' home. When my family discovered our marriage, they allegedly assaulted me and confined me to a room," Himanshi said.

She later contacted the police, claiming that her family was threatening her life. Himanshi said that when officers first arrived, her family dismissed the complaint, telling them that a child had mistakenly made the call. She subsequently managed to contact Atul, after which her parents lodged a complaint against him, accusing him of enticing their minor daughter.

Following police intervention, Himanshi and Atul were reunited. "It feels like I am living my dream," she said while sitting in her home in Budaun's Usawan town, dressed in bridal attire with folded hands.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)