On 19/10/2006 District Court of Muzaffarnagar found Imrana’s father-in-law guilty of rape of Imrana and sentenced him to 10 years rigorous imprisonment. She was raped in June 2005. A fatwa from Deoband declared that since there was sexual relationship her father-in-law becomes her husband and her husband her son. Politicians were not ready to speak against the fatwa. Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said mullas may have given the fatwa after thinking. Some said the fatwa is as per one school of Islamic jurisprudence out of four. Imrana’s villagers sided with her father-in-law. She left the village and returned to her maternal home. Some women’s organizations lent her support. She pursued her case. She won.
The punishment of 10 years rigorous imprisonment is not adequate. It should have been life imprisonment. He should not be let off before completion of his term.
There should be some law against such bizarre fatwas. Such people should be put behind bars. There should be tough action against panchayats which punish people for doing something legal like love marriage or inter-caste marriage.