Love Jihad

Love Jihad, also known as Romeo Jihad, is a term used to describe a supposed conspiracy theory in which Muslim men target non-Muslim women for conversion to Islam by feigning love. The term has been used to incite fear and hatred of Muslims in India and other countries. It has been used as a tool to fuel communal violence, increase religious polarization, and target vulnerable minority communities. The term Love Jihad has no basis in reality and is considered a hoax. There is no evidence that such a conspiracy exists. Scholars, activists, and government officials have denounced Love Jihad as a dangerous, fabricated narrative. In India, the government has launched investigations into the conspiracy theory, but has not found any evidence to support it. The term Love Jihad is used to evoke fear and hatred of Muslims, particularly in India. It is often used to further the Hindutva agenda – an ideology that seeks to make India a Hindu nation. Additionally, Love Jihad has been used to target other minority communities, such as Christians and Dalits.

Supporters of the Love Jihad narrative claim that it is a deliberate strategy to alter the religious demographics of the country, while critics argue that it is a political tool used to promote anti-Muslim sentiment, infringe on individual rights, and control women's choices. Several state governments, particularly those ruled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have introduced laws against "forced religious conversions," which they claim are aimed at addressing Love Jihad. These laws require official approval for interfaith marriages and have raised concerns among rights groups about their potential misuse.

In December 2020, BOOM fact-checked a viral video falsely linked to Love Jihad, claiming it showed an interfaith marital dispute.

BOOM found out that the video actually depicted a mediation attempt to resolve a marital dispute unrelated to an interfaith marriage. This debunking emphasized the need for careful verification of content related to sensitive communal topics.