AGRA: As many as 17 people from the Indian city of Agra reverted to Islam, nearly five months after they had 'converted' to Hindusim on December 25 last year under a controversial 'ghar wapsi' campaign.
The conversion took place on Friday at the Mahuar Lathia village in the Achnera block of the district. Those who reverted all belonged to the ‘Nat’ community who are gypsies living in the slums.
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The 70-year-old head of the family, Rehmat, his children and grandchildren all recited the ‘kalma’ and were supervised by the head of an organisation spearheaded by clerics.
According to Rehmat, his son Ali Muhammad had pressurised the family to make the decision, while according to the latter, he only did so when he was assured by a Hindu leader that they will be handed over the possession of land, something underprivileged families in the country can only dream about.
Ali, himself, later converted to Islam as well.
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The Muslim community in the city had reacted strongly to the conversion campaign by Hindus, and barred those who had converted from attending marriage ceremonies. They were told that they could only do so after reverting to Islam.
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Moreover, according to a Mufti of the city, the status of marriage between a couple becomes void if one of them converts to another religion. Therefore, couples among the 17 men and women will have to retake their marriage vows.
The story originally appeared on BBC Urdu
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