Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Sep 22: Athira, a postgraduate student from Uduma Karippody Kaniyambady here, who had suddenly disappeared and found having been converted into Islam when she surfaced some days later, confessed that she was a victim of conspiracy and peer pressure in embracing Islam. She has now returned to Hinduism.

Athira, who currently lives with her mother, addressed a media conference held at Ernakulam on Thursday September 21. Athira, who had claimed in the past that she wanted to delve deep into Islam and earn knowledge about that religion, said that she fell to forced conversion that was executed as part of a conspiracy.

"Under pressure from my classmates, I had deserted my religion to become a Muslim. But after gaining more knowledge about my own religion, I realized that this happens to be the ideal religion to follow. Therefore, I have returned to Hinduism," she stated.

After the court ordered Athira to be entrusted to the care of her parents, she had been admitted into Arsha Vidya Samaj, Ernakulam. This organization worked to help Athira return to her original religion.

Athira had gone missing on July 10, leaving behind a letter in which she said she was interested to study principles and philosophy of Islam and that she had left home for this purpose. A missing case was filed in the police station but she remained incommunicable. She was later found from near Kannur bus stand on July 27, duly converted into Islam with her new name, 'Ayesha'. She was then produced in the JMFC court at Hosdurg where she had claimed that she got converted on her own volition for studying more about Islam. She had been then housed in the shelter for women at Paravanadka.

During the hearing of habeas corpus petition filed by Athira's parents about their daughter, the state high court had asked Athira to return to parents if she wanted to do so, but Athira had then chosen to go with her friend. But the court did not permit her to do so as a relative of her friend was facing a criminal case. Therefore, parents of Athira were asked to allow her to live as per the tenets of Islam, before allowing her to go with her parents. Athira then had returned home with her parents and later joined Arsha Vidya Samamaj in Ernakulam district.