12 Muslim scholars given life sentences for converting Hindus to Islam in India

An Uttar Pradesh court has slapped life sentences to 12 Muslim scholars for converting Hindus to Islam, local media confirmed Saturday.

They were convicted under IPC Section 121A in a 2021 case related to religious conversion.

The convicted scholars include Maulana Kalim Siddiqui, Mohammed Umar Gautam, Irfan Sheikh, Salauddin Zainuddin Sheikh, Prasad Rameshwar Kanware alias Adam, Arsalan Mustafa alias Bhupriya Bandon, Kaushar Alam, Faraz Shah, Dheeraj Govind Rao Jagtap, Sarfaraz Ali Jafri, Qazi Jahangir and Abdullah Umar.

Siddiqui and Gautam oversea the conversion of hundreds of Hindus to Islam. They were released on bail last year after spending two years in jail.

Moreover, Gautam and Abdullah were also slapped with an additional five years imprisonment and were fined INR25,000 under Section 35 FCRA.

Other scholars were sentenced to three years imprisonment with rigorous punishment. They were also fined of INR10,000 under Section 8 of the Unlawful Religious Conversion (Prohibition) Act, 2021

The court order stated that the previous jail term of the convicted accused would be included in the sentence.