27-year-old Muslim woman denied burial rites after marrying Hindu man in Bareilly

MEERUT/BAREILLY: A 27-year-old Muslim woman was denied Islamic funeral rites by a mosque in Bareilly after marrying a Hindu man, her family claimed. The woman, identified as Alfisha Syed—also known as Arshi—died on Sunday due to illness at her maternal home in Bareilly’s Mohalla Zakhira locality.

Her family approached several local mosques to perform funeral prayers but were turned away.

According to the family, Arshi had married Rahul Shrivastava, a Hindu man from Bareilly, on January 16, 2022. They claim the wedding was conducted in accordance with Islamic rituals and that Rahul had accepted Islam and adopted the name Zubair Ali. “We showed evidence to religious authorities, but they dismissed it, demanding written documentation instead,” said Arshi’s mother, Sohaliya Khan, speaking to TOI. Mufti Nazim Raza, Imam of the Imli Wali Mosque, refused to offer funeral prayers, citing community concerns. “Locals said she married a Hindu and is no longer a Muslim. Conducting her last rites at the mosque would violate Islamic principles. Her family’s claims must first be verified,” he said. Left with no other option, the family arranged for the funeral on their own. No one from the neighbourhood came forward to assist with the ritual bathing of the body, and the family faced resistance at the burial ground.

Police had to intervene to allow the burial. “A complaint was received regarding the denial of funeral rites. The burial was completed in the presence of police, and further action is being taken,” said Rajesh Kumar, SHO, Qila Police Station. Meanwhile, Imam Khurshid Alam of Shahi Jama Masjid confirmed that Arshi’s father had presented marriage documents. “We have spoken to her husband, who confirmed his conversion to Islam. All evidence will be reviewed at the Dargah Alah. If the claims are verified, funeral prayers will be offered at her grave,” he said. “If the allegations of misinformation are true, we will ask the community to apologise to the family, failing which legal action may be pursued,” Alam added.

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