10 months after Kerala man’s murder over conversion to Islam, father too embraces religion

It was 10 months ago that Faisal of Kodinhi was murdered allegedly by Sangh Parivar activists, for converting to Islam. He was killed by a gang along with the support of his relatives, who feared that he would convert more members of his family. However, undeterred by this, his mother and eight other relatives embraced the religion and now his father has also followed suit. 

Ananthakrishnan of Kodinhi embraced Islam and has changed his name to Muhammed Musthafa. 

One of the relatives of Faisal told TNM that Ananthakrishnan got converted out of his own interest.

He got converted at Mounathul Islam Sabha in Ponnani, after certain rituals, reports The Times of India.

The report also says that he has been learning Islam at the Popular Front of India's Sathyasarani religious study centre in Manjeri.

Faisal P alias Aneesh Kumar was hacked to death on November 19, 2016, in Malappuram. 

Faisal had converted to Islam a year ago. 

Police have arrested 16 persons, including Faisal’s brother-in-law Vinodh -affiliated to the RSS, in this regard. 

According to the police, Vinodh had threatened Faisal for converting to Islam and had killed him out of anger. All the accused are currently out on bail.

Recently, on August 24, one of the accused in the Faizal murder case, Bibin (25), an RSS worker, was hacked to death in BP Angadi of Malappuram allegedly by SDPI workers. Police have said it could be a possible revenge killing.

Meenakshi, Faisal’s mother, had converted to  Islam in December, 2016.

In July 2017, two of Faisal’s sisters and one brother-in-law, along with their five children had embraced Islam. 

Following the conversion of eight members of Faisal’s family, there is some tension in the area over fears of violence.

As per the reports, due to security issues, the entire family was shifted from the religious study centre at Ponnani to the Sathyasarani study centre in Manjeri.