When Nikah Turns to Nightmare: A Muslim Woman’s Battle for Justice in Bengaluru
– Staff Reporter, Radiance
Bengaluru: A disturbing case of severe marital abuse has surfaced from the Banashankari area of Bengaluru, where a Muslim woman has lodged a detailed FIR against her husband and in-laws. The complaint includes grave allegations of sexual exploitation, forced abortions, dowry harassment, and criminal intimidation.
The woman, Halima Sadiya, married to Yunus Pasha on June 25, 2021, stated that the abuse began within four months of marriage. She accused her husband of coercing her into non-consensual sexual acts with political associates, attempting to divorce her multiple times, and forcing her to undergo repeated abortions without consent.
One of the most harrowing incidents occurred on December 17, 2021, when, while pregnant, she was allegedly kicked in the stomach by her husband – leading to miscarriage. She further alleged that Yunus held a gun to her head, issued death threats, and physically assaulted her on several occasions.
The FIR also names Yunus’s parents, Chand Pasha and Faheen Taj, for their alleged involvement in:
- Dowry-related harassment,
- Death threats, and
- Forced Abortion
The woman further reported that her father-in-law made sexually inappropriate advances, intensifying her trauma. Due to continued threats, she had been staying at her maternal home for the past two months. On June 4, when she returned to collect her belongings, Yunus allegedly threatened to kill both her and her mother.
The FIR was filed under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to:
- Sexual assault,
- Domestic violence,
- Dowry harassment, and
- Criminal intimidation
Radiance Analysis: A Crisis of Morality
This is not merely a domestic dispute – it is a profound moral failure that underscores how oppression (zulm) can penetrate even the most sacred of human institutions: marriage.
Islam mandates mercy (rahmah), compassion (ihsaan), and justice (‘adl) within marriage. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” The acts described in this FIR are not only criminal – they are in clear violation of Islamic ethics and human dignity.
The allegations reflect a mindset that reduces marriage to ownership and control, rather than honouring it as a contract of trust, love, and mutual respect. That elders within the family allegedly enabled or participated in this abuse is a stark reminder of how deeply rooted patriarchal injustice and un-Islamic cultural practices like dowry have become.
Call to Action
- Legal Aid & Protection: Immediate legal, psychological, and physical safety measures must be provided to the survivor.
- Accountability: The law must proceed without delay or influence. Justice must be both served and seen.
- Community Responsibility: Religious and community leaders must take a clear stand – issuing public denunciations, offering support, and preventing future abuse.
- Islamic Marriage Reform: We must revive public awareness about marriage rights in Islam, especially the prohibition of dowry and all forms of pressure or compulsion, through mosques, madrasas, and community platforms.
- Marriage Counselling Centres: There is a pressing need for community-run counselling centres that provide faith-based guidance, conflict resolution, and safe reporting mechanisms for women experiencing abuse.
Radiance Viewpoint
A community’s integrity is measured not merely by its public piety, but by how it protects the most vulnerable behind closed doors. Let this case be a turning point – not just for one woman’s fight, but for a collective awakening.
