Arshad lures Hindu woman, sexually assaults and forces abortion, forces to eat beef and convert to Islam to marry
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India 
25 September, 2024
Case Summary
On 27th September, a Hindu woman filed a police complaint at Madeyganj police station against a man named Arshad of sexual assault and coercion. She stated that she met Arshad at a friend's birthday party a year and a half ago, which led to a friendship and eventually a romantic relationship. However, Arshad soon began forcing himself on her without consent, resulting in two pregnancies, both of which he forced her to abort. When she asked him to marry her, Arshad demanded that she convert to Islam first. The victim also stated that Arshad forced her to eat beef and, when she approached his father for help, she was met with threats to keep silent or face death. Arshad’s relative Rashid also threatened her. An FIR was filed, and the police invoked sections 69, 89, and 351 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. The Hindu Mahasabha called for strict action, and Arshad was eventually arrested.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Hate crimes against women in relationships and sexual crimes. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Forced conversion before marrige, within which the tertiary category 'forced to eat beef' has been selected. In such cases, a non-Hindu man is in a relationship with a Hindu woman when the pressure to convert her religion begins to manifest. The relationship in such cases is mostly consensual and the religious identity of the perpetrator is known to the Hindu woman in the relationship, however, at some point during the relationship, the non-Hindu man starts to force the victim to convert her religion and give up her Hindu religious identity. In such cases, the methods used to force the victim to convert her religion often revolve around force-feeding beef, forcing her to wear hijab, forcing her to read the Kalma or even pressurizing the victim to do ‘Nikah’, which is marriage under Islamic law, with a prerequisite being conversion to Islam. Cases where a Hindu woman consensually converts to Islam in a relationship will be left out of the hate crime database, even though it could be argued in several cases that the conversion was a result of religious brainwashing. This case reflects a religiously motivated hate crime as it involves the targeting of a Hindu woman, exploiting her trust and using coercion to attempt to convert her religious identity. Arshad's actions, as described, demonstrate an attempt not only to exert control over the woman but also to force her to abandon her Hindu beliefs and customs, which he sought to replace with his own. By demanding that she convert to Islam as a condition for marriage, Arshad imposed a form of religious coercion, showing a lack of respect for her identity and cultural background. The forced consumption of beef—a practice that directly contravenes Hindu beliefs, where cows are revered—indicates a deliberate disregard for her faith. This act of coercion further symbolizes an effort to degrade her religious values and impose his own cultural norms upon her, displaying a broader contempt for Hindu practices. This combination of sexual violence, forced religious conversion, and disregard for the victim’s religious practices constitutes a clear case of religiously motivated hate. It reflects a profound disrespect and antagonism toward Hindu identity and beliefs, which is why this case has been included here.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 0
- Female 1
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 1
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 1
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
