Kerala ‘Love Jihad’ Case: Before Their Marriage, Hadiya’s ‘Husband’ Was In Touch With IS Men, Says NIA

‘Husband' of Akhila Asokan alias Hadiya, the Kerala woman at the centre of alleged 'love jihad' case, was in touch with the Islamic State (IS) fighters via a closed Facebook group before their marriage, the Times of India has reported.

According to the daily’s report, the man, identified as Shafin Jahan, was interacting with two key chargesheeted accused from the Omar-al-Hindi module of the outfit, Manseed and P Safvan. He was using a closed Facebook group to keep in touch with the IS men, the report says, adding that the members of Popular Front of India's political arm Social Democratic Party of India were also part of the group.

Hadiya was in the custody of her parents for almost six months after the Kerala high court had on 29 May annulled her ‘nikah’ with Shafin Jahan. Hadiya, a Hindu by birth, had converted to Islam several months before her marriage.

The Supreme Court had on 27 November allowed her to return to her college, freeing her from the custody of her parents in Kerala.

Hadiya’s father K M Ashokan had welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision allowing her to continue her studies. Asked about his stance on inter-religious marriages, Ashokan had said he believed in one religion and one god but could not have a terrorist in the family. “Hadiya does not have any idea about Syria, where she wanted to go after converting to Islam,” Ashokan had said.

With inputs from PTI