Muslim cleric arrested for blackmailing minor Hindu girls with their photos; had eariler been charged with converting a Hindu girl
Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
24 May, 2024
Case Summary
In the Neemgaon police station area of Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim cleric named Maulana Masood Khan was arrested for blackmailing minor Hindu girl students by sending them their own pictures. His lover, Priyanka, who teaches in a convent school, provided him with images of her female students and he began to threaten them. The institution is managed by a man named Masood Khan. On May 25, when a girl reached the cleric’s shop in order to get her phone recharged, he caught hold of her hand. He took the device and tampered with it. Afterwards, he followed her and engaged in inappropriate behaviour with her. He molested her again on September 24 and threatened that he would take obscene pictures of her and share them on social media. He even threatened her via WhatsApp messages. Her brother then lodged an FIR against him. When the cops examined the perpetrator’s mobile, they discovered dozens of photos as well as lewd videos of Hindu girls, many of whom attended the school where Priyanka was employed. Further, Maulana Masood was also charged with converting a Hindu girl. Two cases were launched against him. His lover and the other Masood Khan were also named as accused.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- 'Predatory Proselytisation'. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Proselytisation by brainwashing, manipulation or subtle indoctrination. Further, according to case details, three tertiary categories have also been selected under the above-mentioned category, which are- 'Pattern of targeting Hindu women/minors', 'Rape and sexual assault/harassment' and 'Conversion of minor.' Religious brainwashing essentially means the often subtle and forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up their religious beliefs to accept contrasting regimented ideas. Religious brainwashing also involves propaganda and manipulation. It involves the systematic effort, driven by religious malice and indoctrination, to persuade “non-believers’ to accept allegiance, command, or doctrine to and of a contrasting faith. Cases of such brainwashing are far more nuanced than direct threats, coercion, inducement and violence. In such cases, it is often seen that there is repeated, subtle and continual manipulation of the victim to induce disaffection towards their own faith and acceptance of the contrasting faith of the perpetrator. While subtle indoctrination is widely acknowledged as predatory, an element which is often understated in such conversions or the attempts of such conversion is the role of loyalty and trust which might develop between the perpetrator and the victim. Fiduciary relationships are often abused to affect such religious conversion. For example, an educator transmitting religious doctrine of a competing faith to a Hindu student. The Hindu student is likely to accept what the teacher is transmitting owing to existence of the fiduciary relationship. The exploitation of the fiduciary relationship to religiously indoctrinate victims would also be included in this category. Since the underlying animosity towards the victim’s faith forms the basis of predatory proselytization, such cases are considered religiously motivated hate crimes. In this case, Maulana Masood engaged in a pattern of systematic exploitation and abuse targeting vulnerable Hindu minors. He used their lewd pictures to blackmail them. Since he was charged with converting Hindu minors in the past it is obvious that the Muslim cleric's actions centred on singling out Hindu girls, manipulating their religious identities and imposing his faith as a means of control. When religious profiling of victims is involved, it is evident that the perpetrator was targeting these minors owing to their religious identity and because of his prejudice and animosity towards Hindus. Further, by utilizing religious conversion as a tool of coercion, his actions demonstrate not only exploitation but also deep-seated disrespect for the victims' faith, autonomy, and basic rights. Moreover, the cleric's focus on minors underscores the severe nature of his abuse, as these young victims, due to their age and lack of maturity, were particularly vulnerable to manipulation. Minors are typically unable to provide genuine consent or fully grasp the ramifications of religious conversion, making them easy targets for exploitation. Maulana Masood's deliberate targeting of their vulnerability points to a calculated intent to dominate and control through religious conversion, thereby turning his actions into a form of religiously motivated hate. Given the religious motive and the Muslim cleric's systematic targeting of minors with the intent to convert, this case has been rightfully classified as a hate crime, marked by exploitation and religious coercion.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
