MALAPPURAM: On an average, more than 600 people pass out from Maunathul Islam Saba, an authorized Islamic conversion centre in Ponnani, after embracing their new mode of life, every year.
But what became of these converted Muslims once they leave the centre after attending a two-month class on the religion remains a mystery for all! And even the police do not seem to have a clear picture of it.
The centre, which is located about five km from the Ponnani town, claimed that every month the Special Branch of the police visits the institute and takes a stock of the situation. The authorities said they hand over the papers and all details to the police during such inspection. But sources from the police revealed that the claim was only partly true and they did not have the complete records of those persons passing out as Muslims from Maunathul. The police sources further added that the numbers could be fake and made-up.
“No one knows where these people go and who they meet. There is no direct link between terrorism and conversion here. The police, however, do not track these people closely. We don’t even ask what their motives are,” said Special Branch DySP Ashok Kumar.Reports suggest that many from across the country, especially from the south, take admission to Maunathul for conversion and two-month class on the fundamentals of Islam. Strangely, a majority of them are youngsters.
“We get 600 to 700 admissions every year. It is a mixture of all. There will be schoolchildren, engineers, college lectures, doctors and even Christian priests. Their motives could be different,” said Muhammed Salim, the superintendent of Maunathul.
“Most of them embraced Islam because they wanted to marry a Muslim man of their choice. A great number of the converts are women aged between 20 an 30. But we have case of an 80 year-old woman accepting Islam, too,” he said. Salim said mostly it was the Hindus followed by the Christians who seek their help to become Muslims at the institute.
He also said the centre would never inquire why they were accepting a new religion and what they would do after leaving the institute.
“There are instances in which many who pass out of the Maunathul become good Muslims and even scholars. But some may stray from the path,” he said.