Hindu Woman Married to Christian Exposes ‘Anti-Conversion Clinic’
They tortured me for 22 days, locked me inside the centre, mentally and physically harassed me until I promised to do whatever they ask me toSwetha, Victim, Native of Thissur District
Swetha, a Hindu woman, says she was forcefully confined in a
‘yoga centre’ in Ernakulam for 22 days, where the staff, paid by her
family, had one agenda: To force her to abandon her husband, a
Christian.
The 28-year-old says that the yoga centre is actually an ‘anti-conversion clinic’ for women who married outside their faith or converted to Christianity or Islam to marry a man of their choice. She says that the staff at the centre subjected her to days of ‘counselling’, asking her to either abandon her husband, or convince him to embrace Hinduism.
She further alleges that there are several more people locked up in the anti-conversion clinic – and one of the inmates she saw there was Athira, a woman who converted back to Hinduism from Islam recently.
The 28-year-old says that the yoga centre is actually an ‘anti-conversion clinic’ for women who married outside their faith or converted to Christianity or Islam to marry a man of their choice. She says that the staff at the centre subjected her to days of ‘counselling’, asking her to either abandon her husband, or convince him to embrace Hinduism.
She further alleges that there are several more people locked up in the anti-conversion clinic – and one of the inmates she saw there was Athira, a woman who converted back to Hinduism from Islam recently.
Swetha's Story
Swetha, a native of Kannur district, is an ayurveda doctor.
She was in a relationship with Rinto Isac, a photographer who resides in
Thrissur district. Rinto is a practicing Christian and Swetha's family
objected to their wedding.
After being in a relationship for three years, Swetha left home on 8 November 8 2016 and the duo got married in a private temple ceremony in Peechi in Thrissur. Rinto's parents accepted their relationship and the couple began living together in Thrissur. After a few months, they registered their marriage under the Special Marriages Act.
"For 10 months after our wedding, we lived happily," Swetha says.
Meanwhile, Swetha's parents began speaking to the couple.
On 28 July, Swetha went to her sister's house in Moovattupuzha, for the sister's house-warming ceremony. Their parents had come down from Kannur for the ceremony. Things took a horrific turn on 31 July, Swetha says.
After being in a relationship for three years, Swetha left home on 8 November 8 2016 and the duo got married in a private temple ceremony in Peechi in Thrissur. Rinto's parents accepted their relationship and the couple began living together in Thrissur. After a few months, they registered their marriage under the Special Marriages Act.
"For 10 months after our wedding, we lived happily," Swetha says.
Meanwhile, Swetha's parents began speaking to the couple.
On 28 July, Swetha went to her sister's house in Moovattupuzha, for the sister's house-warming ceremony. Their parents had come down from Kannur for the ceremony. Things took a horrific turn on 31 July, Swetha says.
My parents, my sister and her husband told me that we were going to Lulu mall. After going there, they told me that my sister wanted to join yoga classes and went to this particular centre. Once inside, a counsellor named Sujith spoke to all of us. When he began talking, I understood that we hadn’t gone there for any yoga class, but the matter was my marriage to a Christian man. The counsellor told me that inter-religious marriages are complicated and that such couples have to face many problems.
A second round of ‘counselling’ was given to Swetha and her mother. Following this, the counsellor spoke to her in private.
Then, his tone completely changed. He began threatening me to leave my husband, or get him to convert to Hinduism if we wanted to live together. He asked me what religion our children would follow, and I said that I didn’t mind if they embraced Christianity. He threatened me saying he will kill my husband and that they won’t let our kids follow Christianity.
While Swetha tried running away from the place, all the doors were shut, she says. [. . .]
READ FULL REPORT HERE: https://www.thequint.com/news/india/hindu-woman-anti-conversion-centres-kerala
READ FULL REPORT HERE: https://www.thequint.com/news/india/hindu-woman-anti-conversion-centres-kerala
