Kochi, November 27: Woman activist Rehana Fathima has been arrested by Pathanamthitta Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiment through a Facebook post. The activist, who tried to enter the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala in October, has also been expelled from the Muslim community by the Kerala Muslim Jama-ath Council. A press statement released by the Council stated that she has been removed as she hurt the sentiments of lakhs of Hindu devotees.

On October 19, Fathima reached the Sabarimala temple with her family but could not reach up to Sannidhanam due to heavy attack by protestors. In the last week, the Kerala High Court directed the state police to take necessary action against the activist, who has been accused of attempting to spread religious hatred online. Reports inform that the 31-year-old activist is in an open relationship with a Hindu and has sparked many controversies in the recent past. Sabarimala Row: BSNL Transfers Activist Rehana Fathima Who Made An Attempt to Enter Lord Ayyappa Temple. 

According to reports, on October 22, the Pathanamthitta Police filed a case against Fathima for allegedly attempting to spread religious hatred on social media. They acted on the Sabarimala Samrakshana Samithi’s complaints about her Facebook posts. As per reports, the protestors had also vandalised her home and later a Muslim council in the state expelled her from the community. Sabarimala Row: 47-Year-Old Woman Devotee Suffers Panic Attack Enroute Shrine as Protesters Heckle Her.

Earlier in 2004, Fathima was a part of the "kiss of love" campaign in Kochi in protest against moral policing. Reports inform that she had raked a controversy, when her partner Manoj shared a video clip of the kiss on Facebook.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 27, 2018 02:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).