Kerala 'Love Jihad' case: 'I am a Muslim, want to remain Muslim' says Hadiya in affidavit to Supreme Court

In the alleged Kerala Love Jihad case, the 24-year-old woman Hadiya has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that she is a Muslim and wanted to remain as a Muslim.

Hadiya filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that she is a Muslim and wanted to remain as a Muslim, reported ANI.

She also stated that she wanted to remain the wife of Shafi Jahan.

In November last year, Hadiya told the Supreme Court that she wanted to be with her husband Shafin Jahan. The 24-year-old has been in the headlines after she became a Muslim.

While Hadiya's parents have been alleging that her marriage was a case of love jihad and that she was converted to Islam forcibly, Hadiya has refuted these claims so far.

During the course of the hearing, Hadiya, who was born as Akhila Ashokan, also said she wanted freedom and to see her husband after the top court asked whether she would prefer to continue studies.

The top court has now directed Hadiya, who currently is in the custody of her parents, to be taken to college for her studies and that college should allow hostel facility to her.

The top court also ordered Hadiya's college dean to be her guardian after she requested for it.

Last month, the Supreme Court observed that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) cannot question the legitimacy of Hadiya's marriage.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra said that NIA can continue with its probe but it cannot investigate into the marital status of the man and the woman. 

The NIA told the top court that it has made substantial progress in its probe into the alleged love jihad case of Kerala. 

The top court will hear the matter on February 22.