Asiya and Abubacker, a Muslim couple in Kerala is allegedly facing a social boycott from their community.

Their fault, if it can be called one, has been to take care of a Hindu snake temple for the last seventeen years. It was part of the land given to them by their ancestors in Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district of Kerala. When the couple came to believe the presence of a snake at their home, they started worshiping it. But this hurt the sentiments of members of their community.

"We have been living here for the last 50 years. For 25 years we went through a lot of hardship. These snake gods came as saviors. We looked after them in secret for about 13 yrs and then everybody came to know about it through our daughter-in-law. People threatened us, asked us to destroy it," said 65 year old Asiya.

She claims that the temple has been demolished several times by their detractors in the last four years and each time, she and her husband rebuilt it. What is more painful is the way they are treated at the mosque, says 75 yr old Abubacker, "One Friday when I was at the mosque they criticized me during a speech, about my beard, my cap. They even criticized me for going to Haj. I have never gone to that mosque since".

The local cleric denied that the couple had been debarred from entering the mosque. However, he said that they had gone against the beliefs of the community. "We never asked him (Abubacker) to not enter the mosque. He stopped coming. If he wants to follow another faith then let him," said the cleric.

The Waqf board which received a complaint from Abubacker explaining how the couple had been ostracized by denying the share of meat from mosque during Bakrid, refusing to accept their membership fee and criticizing them frequently during religious speeches, has now stepped in to take action.

"We have received a complaint from Abubacker stating they are facing a social boycott. We will call both parties for hearing. People should be allowed to follow their belief. Boycotting them for that reason is unacceptable," said BM Jamal, CEO Kerala State Waqf Board.

In spite of all that they have faced, Asiya and Abubacker find no contradiction in their beliefs. The two light a lamp in front of the small temple situated amidst a grove and do their Namaz holding up to their inter-religious faith.