My father has become a tool in hands of anti-national forces, says Hadiya

Days after the Supreme Court restored Hadiya's marriage with Shefin Jahan, she said today at Calicut that her father "has become a tool" for "anti-national forces." Hadiya said some people were trying to manufacture issue out of her conversion and marriage with a Muslim man.

Hadiya was accompanied by her husband as she appeared before media-persons today.

She said, "I embraced Islam on my own free will. But some people wanted to make this a controversy. Initially I didn't have any issues with my family. I know how much they love me and I love them too. But I had to move out after they started to obstruct my religious practices."

"The six months that I spent with my family were literally the period of house arrest. Many people whom I didn't wish to see visited me and those I wanted were never allowed to come. In fact my father has become a tool in the hands of anti-national forces. We live in a country where we can follow any religion out of our free will. But some people are trying to create issues out of this," said Hadiya.

Hadiya had earlier alleged that she was being harassed by her family. She had once alleged that her mother tried to poison her. However, during her press conference today, Hadiya apologised to her parents for having said such things in public.

She urged people and groups involved in the alleged Hadiya-Shefin Jahan love jihad case of Kerala, to put an end to all the controversies surrounding their marriage.

Prior to her conversion, Hadiya was known as Akhila. The 24-year-old medical student hit the headlines after her father alleged Hadiya was a victim of so-called love jihad. He further claimed that certain groups having links with jihadi outfits like Islamic State were involved in luring and brainwashing vulnerable girls for conversion in Kerala.

Hearing the petition, the Kerala High Court had annulled the marriage of Hadiya with Jahan, who challenged the judgment in the Supreme Court. The apex court allowed a probe into the allegations that jihadi groups are active and trapping girls for conversion but set aside the Kerala High Court verdict annulling Hadiya's marriage with Jahan.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had allowed Hadiya to join her medical course in Kerala. She had to discontinue her studies after Kerala High Court had placed Hadiya in her father KM Ashokan's custody. After getting another favourable verdict from the Supreme Court, Hadiya will be returning to her college in Salem tomorrow.