Islam

NEW DELHI : Allahabad High Court protects 31-year-old’s personal liberty after he tells judges he chose Islam and wants to live with his wife, Chandni Qureshi The Allahabad High Court has directed Shamli Police not to interfere with 31-year-old Ayush Malik’s personal liberty after he told the court that he had converted to Islam voluntarily and wished to live with his wife, Chandni Qureshi. Ayush Malik was produced before the court on September 16 following a habeas corpus petition filed by his friend, Sultan, who had sought his production amid allegations that Malik was being unlawfully detained. On Social Media Platform X, Some account posted about Ayush Malik case. "Shamli, Yogi's Uttar Pradesh." "Ayush Malik is out of illegal custody." "Despite confinement, collective torture, forced rituals, and family pressure, he refused to leave his faith." "And Ayush Malik told the High Court clearly that he accepted Islam willingly and wants to live with his wife." "May Allah protect every new Muslim who faces such tests." https://twitter.com/Muslim_ITCell/status/2100181173750169846?s20 Another X user Posted about Ayush Malik "Shamli, Uttar Pradesh" "Ayush Malik is finally free from illegal custody." "The change in his appearance and visibly reduced weight speak volumes about what he says he went through during those difficult days." https://twitter.com/faizulhaque95/status/2100193482845638841?s20 Malik Says Conversion Was Voluntary During the hearing, Malik told the court that he had accepted Islam of his own free will and without coercion. He also expressed his desire to reside with Chandni Qureshi. According to the petition, Malik had converted to Islam and subsequently married Chandni. It alleged that he was later kept in the custody of his father, Devraj Singh Malik, with the alleged involvement of state authorities. Court Had Ordered His Production On September 9, Justice Sandeep Jain had directed the Uttar Pradesh authorities and Malik’s father to produce him before the court on September 16. The court had described the allegations concerning his alleged detention and the involvement of authorities as serious. The petition further alleged that Malik’s father filed an FIR against Chandni and her relatives at Shamli police station on June 6, 2026. The case was registered under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, along with sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The petitioners described the FIR as false and motivated and alleged that Malik was being deprived of his personal liberty. Police Directed Not to Interfere After Malik was produced before the High Court, he reaffirmed his decision to follow Islam and his wish to live with his wife. The court subsequently directed the police not to interfere with his personal liberty or the couple’s decision. The case has raised questions concerning an adult’s freedom to choose a religion and spouse. The Bar and Bench reported that the court’s earlier order had indicated, at a prima facie stage, that the material before it suggested Malik had voluntarily converted to Islam and married Chandni, while not making a final determination on the allegations. Justice Sandeep Jain passed the order after Malik, aged about 31 years and a Bachelor of Pharmacy graduate, told the Court that he had voluntarily embraced Islam and wants to marry a Muslim woman. "His categorical statement before the Court is that he has voluntarily embraced Islam and that such decision was neither induced nor occasioned by any threat, coercion, undue influence or pressure. Nothing has been brought on record which may persuade this Court to disbelieve the statement made by the corpus in the course of his interaction with the Court," the Court noted. The proceedings before the Allahabad High Court will continue.