Deepa, a Hindu mother, was in a long and bitter interfaith custody battle with her former husband who unilaterally converted their two children after he became a Muslim.

MIC Wanita leader Mohana Muniandy told FMT that she had been keeping in close contact with Deepa, and said she only speaks to a small circle of individuals.

“She is living in fear. Who can blame her?” Mohana said when contacted.

Earlier this week, Deepa’s ex-husband, Izwan Abdullah, was reported to have threatened that he would snatch Sharmila, 11, if she was taken to a Hindu temple or fed non-halal food. Deepa has stated that she would continue to bring up her daughter as a Hindu.

Mohana said Wanita MIC was concerned by Izwan’s seeming lack of fear of action against him over his intention to break the law again.

She was also puzzled as to why authorities were seemingly keeping mum over Izwan’s threat, adding that he has caused some uneasiness among the Indian community.

Mohana asked if action would be taken against Izwan if the latter defied the court order on access rights to the children or was he “above the law?”

She said: “Would authorities have the same reaction if the situation was vice-versa?”

Mohana urged officials to look beyond race and religion when it came to upholding the law, of which she lamented was not seen in this matter.

Deepa and Izwan became embroiled in a controversial custody battle earlier after the latter converted their two children without Deepa’s knowledge or consent.

The Seremban High Court had granted custody of the two children to Deepa, but Izwan abducted their son, Mithran, two days later.

On February 10 this year, the Federal Court granted Deepa custody of their daughter, while Izwan was given custody of Mithran.