Seven individuals in Karnataka, including a married couple, are facing an FIR for purportedly coercing a 28-year-old married woman to convert to Islam by exploiting explicit photos of her. The complaint, as per police reports, states that the woman was sexually assaulted by the man in the presence of his wife. Additionally, she was allegedly compelled to wear a burkha and prohibited from wearing ‘kumkum’ on her forehead.
Rafik, along with his wife, reportedly manipulated the woman, engaging in sexual relations with her. Subsequently, he allegedly took intimate photographs of her, using them as leverage to coerce her into converting from Hinduism to Islam.
Authorities stated that Rafik and his wife compelled the woman to relocate to their residence in Belagavi in 2023, insisting that she adhere to their directives. The woman claimed that she was sexually assaulted by Rafik in the previous year, while they were cohabiting with his wife.
According to Belagavi SP Bhimashankar Guleda, in April this year, the couple purportedly instructed the woman to refrain from wearing ‘kumkum’, insisting instead that she wear a burkha and participate in namaz five times daily. The woman further claimed that the accused subjected her to caste-based insults and pressured her to convert to a different religion due to her belonging to a backward caste.
In her complaint, the woman stated that Rafik insisted she divorce her husband and warned of releasing her intimate photos if she didn’t comply with his demands. She further alleged that the couple threatened to murder her unless she converted to Islam. An FIR was filed in Saundatti against seven individuals following the woman’s allegations. They are accused of violating the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, pertinent sections of the IT law, the SC/ST Act, and various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to rape, abduction, unlawful confinement, and criminal intimidation.
