Sixteen Years and Counting: Indira Gandhi’s Fight to Reclaim Her Daughter
For over 16 years, Malaysian mother M. Indira Gandhi has endured a relentless and painful struggle to reunite with her youngest daughter, Prasana Diksa. In 2009, Prasana was taken from her by her ex-husband after he converted to Islam. What began as a custody dispute has spiralled into one of Malaysia’s most distressing human rights crises.
March for Justice: A Symbolic Plea
This intense battle reignited nationwide attention after Indira’s symbolic 1.8 km march to Bukit Aman, home to Malaysia’s federal police headquarters. Clutching her missing daughter’s old teddy bear, Indira sought to hand it to the Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Ismail—who notably did not appear to receive her. More than 200 supporters dressed in black accompanied her, bearing signs that cried out: “Return my child” and “Stop these 16 years of pain.” Indira pushed Prasana’s old stroller, surrounded by her older children Tevi, 27, and Karan, 26, turning the march into a poignant family plea for justice.
The Father at the Center of the Storm
Indira’s ex-husband, Riduan Abdullah, forcibly took Prasana when she was just 11 months old. He subsequently converted their three children to Islam without Indira’s consent—a conversion Malaysia’s Federal Court declared invalid in 2018. The court ordered police to arrest Riduan and return the children to their mother. Yet seven years later, Riduan remains at large, and enforcement of the court’s order remains absent.
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim sharply criticized authorities for mishandling the case as a religious rather than a civil issue. “The shariah court won’t accept the civil court’s decision, and police won’t enforce it,” he stated, underscoring the legal deadlock.
Administrative Apathy and a Broken System
Between 2021 and 2025, the police submitted more than 18 near-identical affidavits with no concrete investigative progress. Arun Dorasamy, chair of the Indira Gandhi Action Team (INGAT), condemned the authorities’ lack of action, pointing out “no proof of fieldwork, coordination with immigration, national registration, transport authorities, or Interpol.”
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) pledged a public inquiry in 2019 but has yet to produce findings six years later, citing legal constraints in a recent apology.
At the heart of the crisis is Malaysia’s complex dual legal framework—civil law governing custody, but the ex-husband’s actions falling under sharia law. This case has reignited urgent debates on the constitutional limits of religious authority and the pressing need for legal clarity in Malaysia’s multi-faith society.
Fighting Back: A $24 Million Lawsuit and the Unyielding Hope of a Mother
Refusing to give up, Indira has filed a $24 million lawsuit against the police, Home Ministry, and government, accusing them of wilful neglect. With voice often breaking under the weight of grief and determination, she affirms, “I have waited 16 years. All I want is my daughter back.”
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