Kerala love jihad case: Hadiya's father suspects she is mentally unstable

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Parents of Hadiya, 25, whose marriage to a Muslim has been annulled by the Kerala High Court, allege that she is incapable of taking independent decisions because she is “mentally unstable”. The crucial ‘disclosure’ came hours before Hadiya was to appear before the Supreme Court case on Monday, on a petition filed by Shefin Jehan challenging the annulment of their marriage and questioning a probe conducted by the NIA, whose report is now with the apex court.

Parents’ counsel C. Rajendran told the media in New Delhi that the High Court had annulled the marriage after the justices themselves were convinced of her “mental status”. “Hadiya behaves cruelly to her parents, abuses them... which shows her behaviour is not normal. What she told the media before (emplaning for Delhi) cannot be taken as being voluntary”, Mr Rajendran said, referring to her statement that she “is a Muslim, there was no coercion in the marriage and want to be reunited with her husband”.

He said he would produce medical evidence to prove that she is not in a proper frame of mind. Hadiya had said she embraced Islam on her own and the court should her ensure adequate protection to live with her husband. Ever since the HC annulled her marriage in May, Hadiya has been under virtual house arrest at home in TV Puram, Kottayam. The case has triggered another bout of debate in Kerala, with a section alleging that Hadiya was the victim of Love Jihad.

Muslim outfits had marched to the High Court, questioning the judicial intervention in a question of adult choice. Hadiya’s father K.M. Ashokan, mother Ponnamma and a police team were put up at Kerala House, which resembles a fortress. The Delhi police has restricted visitors even denying free access to the canteen and barred the media from the House. Hadiya was whisked away through a different gate after she arrived at Delhi airport on Sunday, denying the national media a chance to meet her.