People trying to interrupt Hadiya's studies: Father

Vaikom: The father of Hadiya, a Kerala woman at the centre of an alleged 'love jihad' case, on Thursday claimed that some persons were trying to "interrupt" his daughter's studies and that he would approach court to protect her.

K M Asokan said the Supreme Court had sent her to the homoeopathy medical college in Tamil Nadu with a purpose to allow her to complete her studies and any move to interrupt it would be an offence.

He expressed displeasure over Hadiya being allowed to hold a press conference at the Sivaraj Homoeopathy Medical College at Salem in Tamil Nadu yesterday.

"She has been sent by the Supreme Court there for completing her studies. But she is not allowed to do it. Some people are trying to interrupt her studies. She was threatened to hold a press conference. I am concerned," Hadiya's father said here.

Claiming that his daughter had been "brainwashed" to go to Syria, Asokan, a former Army man, said he had no issues with whatever faith his daughter wanted to follow.

On the reported move by Shafin Jahan, whose marriage with Hadiya had been annulled by the Kerala High Court, to meet her at the college, he said, "I will adopt all possible measures, including the legal route, to protect my daughter. I have full faith in the judicial system".

He alleged that there was a "strong NIA case" against Jahan and that he was under the watch of investigative agencies and the judicial system.

Asokan's comments come a day after Hadiya spoke to Jahan via the mobile phone of her college dean in Salem, where she is set to pursue her course as per the apex court direction.

College dean G Kannan has been appointed as the local guardian of the Kerala woman by the apex court.

The dean told reporters that Hadiya talked to Jahan for a while from his mobile phone, after he asked her whether she was interested in talking or meeting someone.

25-year-old Hadiya's marriage with Jahan after converting to Islam was annulled by the Kerala High Court in May this year on the ground that it was an instance of 'love jihad'.

She was then sent by the court with her parents.

In an interim order on a petition by Jahan challenging the high court verdict, the Supreme Court had on November 27 set her free from the custody of her parents and directed her to pursue studies at the Salem college, appointing its dean as guardian.

The apex court refused to accede Hadiya's request to go with Jahan.