Allahabad High Court Upholds Women’s Right to Voluntarily Convert to Islam and Marry

The Allahabad High Court reaffirmed the autonomy of women regarding their religious conversions and marital choices in a ruling that underscores individual rights amidst familial opposition. The court’s statement came in response to a petition filed by two sisters, aged 20 and 35, who sought legal protection after converting to Islam and intending to marry men of their choosing.

During the court proceedings, Justice Sandeep Jain noted that if women make the decision to convert to Islam voluntarily, no one—including family members—has the authority to intervene in their choices. The sisters, represented by their counsel, expressed that their actions were rooted in personal freedom and their fundamental rights. They argued that their conversion from Hinduism to Islam was not coerced but rather a voluntary decision reflective of their beliefs.

The case was brought to the court’s attention on July 30, amid allegations that their father had lodged a police complaint in Agra in May 2025, attempting to prevent them from pursuing their rights. The complaint led to a first information report (FIR) being registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which addresses offenses related to kidnapping and coercing women into marriage. The sisters’ legal representative claimed that they had been unlawfully confined, assisted by local police forces, to obstruct their decisions.

Justice Jain ordered the Uttar Pradesh police to present the sisters in court on August 6, demonstrating the court’s commitment to ensuring their safety and autonomy. The judge emphasized that since there was no concrete evidence of coercion or fraud in the sisters’ conversion, the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, were not applicable in this case.

This ruling not only highlights the importance of individual agency but also brings to light the ongoing tension surrounding interfaith marriages and religious conversions in India. The court’s decision may have wider implications for similar cases, reinforcing the notion that personal choices regarding faith and companionship must be respected, free from external interference.

Source: scroll.in