Delhi High Court orders police protection for woman who faced threats after converting to Islam

The Delhi High Court has granted interim police protection to a woman who allegedly faced threats to her life from the Uttar Pradesh Police and vigilante groups after wilfully converting to Islam (Renu Gangawar alias Ayesha Alvi v. Commissioner of Police & Ors)..The petitioner had approached the Delhi High court on June 29 for an urgent hearing, after which her case was listed before the vacation bench on Thursday..While the Bench of Justice C Hari Shankar was not inclined to go into the merits of the case, the petitioner was allowed interim police protection till the next date of hearing.."What we can do is, we can list this matter on Monday, and the police will take care of your safety till then," the Court stated.Counsel for the petitioner stated that her client wanted interim protection from being forcibly taken away by any person, government or agency."I can say that no illegal action of any kind will be taken against you by anyone," Justice Hari Shankar said..Counsel for the Delhi Police informed the Court that the petitioner's address and phone number provided to them was wrong and that this would make it difficult to provide protection.Accordingly, the petitioner was directed by the High Court to provide her true address to the police, so that the order can be complied with..The matter has been listed before the regular bench on July 5, 2021..The woman belongs to Tilhar, Shahjahanpur and works in Delhi. She stated in her petition that she and her family members were facing extreme threats to their lives and that they were being "witch hunted" by the UP Police, media channels and vigilante groups. Further, she claimed that a number of "small time" media portals were publishing malicious content against her everyday..She also claimed that she received phone calls from media persons who threatened to publish stories on her conversion, and that one such person extorted Rs. 20,000 from her..The woman stated in her petition that on June 24, she had sent a written complaint to the Commissioner of Delhi Police seeking protection, to no avail. Thus, she was prompted to approach the Delhi High Court for the following reliefs:Order directing the respondents (Delhi Police, UP Police, and state governments) to ensure that the petitioner is not taken away from the jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court by force or coercion or by any other illegal means Order directing the respondents to ensure protection of the life, liberty, safety and security of the petitioner, her family members and friends and that they be not harassed and interrogated with regard to the conversion of the petitioner Order directing the media channels to not to publish any malicious content with regard to the petitioner and not to divulge her personal details. If already done, the same may be removed with immediate effect. Order directing agencies State of UP to not to harass the petitioner or any other person who has not converted in the State of UP, to whom the provisions of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020 do not apply..The petitioner is represented by Advocate Kamlesh Kumar Mishra.