Happy that I got freedom: Hadiya thanks SC for restoring her marriage

Born in a Hindu family as Akhila Asokan, the 25-year-old woman became a Muslim after entering into wedlock with Jahan in 2016

hadiya, Shafin Jahan, love jihad
Hadiya alias Akhila Ashokan, the face of the alleged ‘love jihad’ case with her husband Shafin Jahan speaks to media after Supreme Court order in Kozhikode on Monday | Photo: PTI
ANI Thiruvananthapuram
Last Updated : Mar 12 2018 | 7:43 PM IST

Pleased with Supreme Court's verdict, Hadiya on Monday thanked the apex court for giving her the "freedom" to live with his husband as a Muslim.

"I am happy that I got freedom now. I approached Supreme Court for two things. One, I want to live as a Muslim and second, I want to live with my partner," Hadiya said while addressing a press conference here.

She further said, "I totally ignored outside happenings when I was at home. When I came out after six months, it was a new world."

Her joy comes after the top court had restored Hadiya-Shafin Jahan marriage, which was annulled by Kerala High Court last year.

Born in a Hindu family as Akhila Asokan, the 25-year-old woman became a Muslim after entering into wedlock with Jahan in 2016.

The matter had hit the headlines, when Hadiya's father, KM Asokan, went to the court, claiming his daughter has fallen victim to 'love jihad'.

The HC annulled Hadiya's marriage in May 2017 over a National Investigation Agency (NIA) report, claiming that Hadiya was a victim of indoctrination and psychological kidnapping.

The court also sent the woman to her parents' custody, following which the husband moved the Supreme Court, which last week restored their marriage and also allowed NIA to continue its probe into other alleged love jihad instances.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Mar 12 2018 | 6:43 PM IST

Next Story