Lucknow, Jul 26 (PTI) All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) general secretary Maulana Yasoob Abbas on Monday said some people are trying to malign the image of Islam in the garb of religious conversion.

Addressing a meeting of the AISPLB here, Abbas said, "Some people are trying to malign the image of Islam in the garb of religious conversion. However, the fact is that there is no provision of forcible conversion in Islam and nobody can be made a Muslim forcibly."

He added, "Prophet Mohammad did not forcibly make anyone read 'Kalma' (verses of Quran). If anyone adopts Islam voluntarily, then he/she is a Muslim. If anyone becomes Muslim under pressure or under some temptation is against Islam."

Abbas also said the Uttar Pradesh government should re-consider the proposed Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilization and Welfare) Bill, 2021.

"Emphasis should be laid on brotherhood, and people should be made aware about education," he said in a statement issued by the AISPLB.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)