Gang of 18 Muslims use inducements and degrade Hinduism to lure Hindus to convert to Islam
Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India 
23 May, 2023
Case Summary
Uttar Pradesh Police arrested 18 individuals from the Chirkihit village of Lalganj in Azamgarh for attempting to forcefully convert Hindus to Islam. The accused persons were identified as Farid Mohammad, Mohammad Sabroz, Ramzan, Rasheed, Sahabuddin, Sikandar, Mohammad Javed, Faiyaz, Parvez Azam, Irfan, Sabir Ali, Javed Ahmed, Haseena, Usha Devi, Akash Saroj, Awadhesh Saroj, Pannalal Gupta and Kundan Benvanshi. The accused set up a late-night gathering in one of the village's homes with a Trishul and pictures of prominent Muslim religious leaders. In addition, a Qawwali programme was organised to give this conversion event the appearance of a cultural programme. A mazaar-like structure was made at the event and the Hindus were made to believe that all their existent diseases would be cured. The mastermind of this whole programme was one Sajjad. By glorifying the negative aspects of Hinduism and the positive aspects of Islam, the people assembled at Awadhesh Pasi’s home were duped into joining Islam. Islam was discussed by Qawwal Farid Ahmed, who had arrived from Balrampur for the event. The State police reached the spot and arrested 18 people including two women. All the accused are residents of Azamgarh, Mau, Gonda and Balrampur districts. The Police confirmed that the Hindus were being tricked to convert and lured for money.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This particular case has been classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under two subcategories under Predatory Proselytisation because of the various distinct components that demonstrate the perpetrator's bias against the Hindu faith and their deliberate attempt to alienate the victims from their Hindu identity. Because of the case's specifics, we have put this case under the prime category: Predatory Proselytization and to narrow down the search further we have chosen the subcategory 'attempting to convert/converting by denigrating Hinduism' under this core category in addition to 'conversion by inducement'. In several cases, Hindus are converted or an attempt is made to convert Hindus by denigrating their faith, Hinduism. In such cases, the Hindus associate with the non-Hindu perpetrators often by choice and then, the attempt to convert them by insulting their faith, showing the faith down etc begins. An example of this would be a non-Hindu gathering where the Hindus are attending the gathering of their own free will. However, once they attend the gathering, there is an explicit attempt to convert them by abusing their faith and hailing the faith of the perpetrator. The denigration of the Hindu faith is often based on misrepresentation of the Hindu faith, its doctrine and scriptures and insult to espoused traditions if not blatant lies about Hindu beliefs and ways. Such conversions or attempts at conversions are driven by animosity towards the Hindu faith and are therefore documented as religiously motivated hate crimes. The second sub-category under 'Predatory Proselytisation' relevant in this case is- conversion by inducement. Predatory Proselytisation is not just limited to threat, harassment, force and violence, but it also has contours of stealth. In several cases, the Hindu victim is exploited to convert, with non-Hindus taking advantage of their poverty. In such cases, the Hindu victim who is suffering financially is offered monetary benefits, including lucrative offers for jobs, health treatment, education, etc, to induce the victim into changing his/her religion. In such cases, the religious identity of the victim and the aim to disenfranchise him from his faith form the heart of the crime. Also, taking advantage of and exploiting an individual’s economic vulnerabilities is widely acknowledged as exploitation, forms of which are often penalised by law. Such cases therefore are considered religiously motivated hate crimes since the victim’s religious identity forms the very heart of the crime itself. In this specific case, elements of both these subcategories were observed. Firstly, it is evident from the details that the Hindu victims belonged to the economically weaker section of the society. The accused were attempting to convert them by offering them the inducement of money and cures for their ailments - a cure that they either could not afford or for incurable diseases. Secondly, the Muslim accused were overtly trying to convert Hindus by abusing and disparaging Hinduism while glorifying their own faith, Islam. In an effort to indoctrinate Hindus against their religion—which itself is a product of hostility towards the Hindu faith—they were extolling Islam and disparaging Hinduism. Since the motivating factor of the crime was the religious identity of the victim and the intention of the accused to disenfranchise him from it, the case has been categorised as a hate crime.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 10 to 100
Perpetrators Gender
both
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