Hadiya's father welcomes SC decision, says he can't have 'terrorist' in family

New Delhi: The father of the Kerala woman, at the centre of the alleged love jihad case, on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court decision allowing her to continue her studies.

Asked about his stance on inter-religious marriages, Hadiya's father K M Ashokan said he believed in one religion and one god but could not have a terrorist in the family.

"Hadiya does not have any idea about Syria, where she wanted to go after converting to Islam," Ashokan said.

"I cannot have a terrorist in the family," he added.

The Supreme Court yesterday freed Hadiya, 25, alleged to be a victim of 'love jihad', from the custody of her parents and sent her to college to pursue her studies, even as she pleaded that she should be allowed to go with her husband Shafin Jahan.

"I was sad that she had to undergo all these unpleasant experiences because of which her studies were interrupted. But now I am happy as the court has allowed her to study further," Ashokan told reporters.

He denied allegations that she had been kept under house arrest and added, "She was fully surrounded by police inside and outside the house."

Ashokan said he was not worried about her security in Salem, Tamil Nadu, as she was now under the protection and observation of the apex court.

"I accept the Supreme Court's decision. She is under the protection of the Supreme Court as it is monitoring the case and so I am not worried about her security," he said.

He also said he would go to Salem and meet her as and when necessary as the court had allowed him to do so.

"The court has not given anyone guardianship, including Shafin Jahan, of my child," Ashokan said, adding that only close relatives like him were allowed by the court.

Hadiya on Tuesday left for Salem under the protection of Kerala Police and is expected to reach there by evening.

The apex court, which yesterday interacted with Hadiya for nearly half-an-hour in the courtroom against the wishes of her father who had sought an in-camera interaction, had directed the Kerala police to provide her security and ensure that she travels at the earliest to Salem to pursue her homoeopathy studies at the Sivaraj Medical College there.

Hadiya was in the custody of her parents for almost six months after the Kerala High Court had on May 29 anulled her 'nikah' with Shafin Jahan.

Coimbatore/Salem: A Kerala woman, who is at the centre of an alleged love-jihad case, will pursue her homeopathy studies under her previous Hindu name, the Salem medical college principal said on Tuesday, a day after the Supreme Court freed her from the custody of her parents.

Hadiya, 25, flew to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu from Delhi and headed to Salem by road this evening to resume her studies as directed by the apex court. A Hindu by birth and named as Akhila Ashokan, she had converted to Islam several months before her marriage.

Hadiya, who was accompanied by the Kerala police, is due to undergo a 11-month internship in homeopathy at the Sivaraj Medical College in Salem, about 170 km from Coimbatore. She was not permitted to speak to the media at the airport in Coimbatore.

A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra had given its direction yesterday after interacting with Hadiya even as she pleaded that she should be allowed to go with her husband Shafin Jahan.

Salem medical College Principal G Kannan said Hadiya will be treated as one of the inmates of the hostel and that no special treatment will be accorded to her.

Hadiya will be registered under her Hindu name Akhila Ashokan in the college, he told reporters in Salem.

Hadiya was in the custody of her parents for almost six months after the Kerala High Court had on May 29 anulled her 'nikah' with Shafin Jahan.

The apex court has appointed the dean of the college as Hadiya's guardian and granted him liberty to approach it in case of any problem.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, had directed the college and the university to re-admit Hadiya and grant her hostel facilities. Deputy Commissioner of Police Subbbulakshmi, who held a meeting with college authorities in Salem, told reporters that adequate protection will be given to the woman.

Salem: Freed by the Supreme Court from the custody of parents and directed to pursue her studies, Hadiya, who is at the centre of a love-jihad case, on Tuesday said she desired to meet her husband Shafin Jahan.

She arrived here in a police vehicle from Coimbatore, about 170 km from here, amid tight security, to pursue her studies at a homeopathy college here.

"I have sought permission from the college authorities to meet my husband. I hope they will allow," she told reporters at the college where she will undergo a 11-month internship. During the proceedings yesterday, the apex court refused to allow Hadiya's plea to go with her husband.

Earlier, she arrived here in a police vehicle from Coimbatore, about 170 km from here, amid tight security.

Hadiya, wearing a yellow scarf, was whisked away to the Managing Director's office at the college soon after arrival.