04, Oct 2021 | CJP Team

CJP introduces Love Azaad, a unique map that helps track violence against people who dare to love despite differences in religion, caste and other socio-cultural barriers.

India’s Constitution states that we are both sovereign and secular. Yet, every day, young men, women and even people having other gender identities and diverse sexualities, are killed in cold blood, often by their own families… only because their relationships do not have social approval. These dishonourable acts of violence are ironically dubbed “honour killings”. There are many other instances where couples are threatened, tortured and often forced to move court to seek protection.

Just yesterday, on October 3, the mutilated body of 24-year-old Arbaz Aftab Mullah was found near the railway tracks between Besur and Khanapur in Karnataka’s Belgavi district. He had gone missing on September 27, and his family alleges that Mullah was killed in retaliation for his relationship with a woman from the majority community. After the woman’s family found out about their relationship a few months ago, members of Sri Ram Sene, an extremist Hindutva outfit, had allegedly warned Mullah against meeting the woman. They also made several threatening calls to the Mullah, whose family alleges they along with members of the woman’s family were involved in his killing.

The illusion of ‘Love Jihad’ has led violence and intimidation by police and non-state actors. The ‘Love Jihad’ laws legitimise un-constitutional, anti-minority and misogynistic beliefs, and help further the hateful, communal agenda of extremists. CJP is challenging these laws as they impinge upon the privacy, freedoms and autonomy of consenting adults. Help CJP fight for equality and choice. Donate now to denounce Love Jihad and keep #LoveAzaad.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s Crime In India (CII) 2020 Report, 25 “honour killings” took place last year. The report has also recorded 1,443 instances where couples have been targeted for engaging in “Love Affairs” and 1,588 instances where they have been attacked for engaging in “illicit relationships”. Just the choice of words is a stark example of the deep-seated prejudice against love between consenting adults.

CJP fights for the Right to Love

CJP has previously worked towards creating greater awareness about the fake narrative of “Love Jihad”. In December 2020, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), had filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 and the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018. In January, a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice S.A Bobde and including Justices V Ramasubramanian and AS Bopanna heard the petitions, and issued notices to UP and Uttarakhand. Then in February, CJP filed an application before the Supreme Court of India seeking to amend its original writ petition that challenged the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand anti-conversion laws, seeking to include the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020 and Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2019. On February 17, allowed this amendment. All four laws were challenged on grounds that they are discriminatory, anti-women, and contravene the right to privacy and personal liberty of citizens by criminalising interfaith unions. We also held day long social media engagement activities such as Instagram Lives on February 13, 2021, that culminated in a webinar to celebrate the right to love between consenting adults of all genders and sexualities.

Love Azaad Map

Now, building on our commitment to uphold and defend Constitutional values, CJP is now launching Love Azaad – a map that tracks such hate crimes against love. It is colour-coded to track “Honour Killings” (Black), “Love Jihad” (Purple), Societal Hate (Orange) and Mob Violence (Red). The map may be viewed here:

Related:

CJP moves SC against “Love Jihad” laws

CJP’s Love Jihad Petition: SC issues notice to UP and Uttarakhand

CJP’s Love Jihad amendment petition allowed by SC

Love Azaad! What does freedom to love cost in contemporary India?