NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has granted bail to a madrasa teacher, Maulvi Syed Shad Kazmi, who the Uttar Pradesh government accused of ‘illegally’ converting a minor boy to Islam. The court observed that the charges against him were not as severe as crimes like murder, dacoity, or rape.
The Allahabad High Court rejected a bail plea under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, expressing concern that continued religious conversions could lead to the majority population becoming a minority. The court emphasized that while the Indian Constitution guarantees religious freedom, it doesn’t permit forced conversions. The accused’s bail was denied.
