12 Muslim scholars sentenced to life imprisonment in India for influencing Hindus to convert to Islam

A court in India's Uttar Pradesh has sentenced 12 Muslim scholars, including renowned clerics Maulana Kalim Siddiqui and Mohammed Umar Gautam, to life imprisonment for converting Hindus to Islam, local media confirmed on Saturday.

According to Indian media, the prominent clerics of Uttar Pradesh were convicted in a 2021 case related to religious conversion. 

Notably, the life sentence was imposed under IPC Section 121A, which deals with crimes against the state.

The convicted scholars include Maulana Kalim Siddiqui, Mohammed Umar Gautam, Irfan Sheikh, Salauddin Zainuddin Sheikh, Prasad Rameshwar Kanware alias Adam, Arsalan Mustafa alias Bhupriya Bandon, Kaushar Alam, Faraz Shah, Dheeraj Govind Rao Jagtap, Sarfaraz Ali Jafri, Qazi Jahangir and Abdullah Umar.

Siddiqui and Gautam, who oversaw the conversion of hundreds of Hindus to Islam, were released on bail last year after spending two years in jail.

Gautam and Abdullah were also sentenced to additional five years imprisonment and a fine of INR25,000 under Section 35 FCRA. 

Other scholars were sentenced to three years imprisonment with rigorous punishment and a fine of INR10,000 under Section 8 of the Unlawful Religious Conversion (Prohibition) Act, 2021. 

The charges against them include cheating (IPC Section 417), criminal conspiracy (IPC Section 120B), promoting enmity between different groups (IPC Section 153A), charges of prejudice (IPC Section 153B), intentional acts to incite religious sentiments (IPC Section 295A), conspiracy against the state (IPC Section 121A).

The court order stated that the previous jail term of the convicted accused would be included in the sentence.