An Indian court in Lucknow has sentenced Muslim scholar Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui and eleven others to life in prison for their alleged involvement in illegal religious conversions. The special court, led by Judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi, found them guilty of conspiracy against the state under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. This case dates back to 2021 when allegations of illicit conversions first surfaced.
Among those convicted is Maulana Umar Gautam, who, along with Abdullah Umar, received an additional five years of rigorous imprisonment and fines. Sixteen others were sentenced to ten years in prison under the Uttar Pradesh Unlawful Religious Conversion Prohibition Act, 2021. This law criminalizes religious conversions carried out through force, fraud, or inducement.
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The verdict has sparked significant debate and concern, particularly among Muslim communities. Critics argue that this law unfairly targets minorities and is being used to suppress Muslim leaders and institutions. Muslim organizations have condemned the arrests, seeing them as part of a larger campaign against Islamic outreach efforts in India.
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