Daily Times

According to media reports, the words of the title are a direct quote of the words uttered by Senator Anwar ul Haq Kakar, who heads the Senate Committee on Forced Religious Conversions, while briefing the press on return from Sindh, on an investigative visit. To give credence to his findings, Kakar was accompanied by a Hindu member of his committee, MNA Lal Chand Malhi, and a Hindu civil society activist from Tharparkar, Krishan Sharma.

Let me concede here that my wisdom, as well as my knowledge of Islam has to be far more limited than a sitting Senator; which is why he is a senator and I am a tired ex-soldier. I therefore, request Kakar’s indulgence in educating me further. Despite the explanation Kakar offers, which are due to the Hindu girl’s poverty, I have a few questions.

If the little willingness to convert to Islam is due to her poverty and not to her acceptance of the truth of Islam, should we not try to eradicate poverty among the Hindus?

First, how does the girl express her “some willingness” which is discernable to the astute only. e.g. when asked thrice by the Nikahkhwan about her willingness to marry, say, Mohammed Din, were she to reply in the affirmative twice and negative once, how should this be interpreted? That twice “yes” and once “no” implies that her unwillingness is small enough to be ignored and, therefore conversion and marriage, justified? Is that intended as a Carte Blanche to the Nikahkhwan?

Second, if the little willingness to convert to Islam is due to her poverty and not to her acceptance of the truth of Islam, should we not try to eradicate poverty among the Hindus? If we eradicate poverty, we will be certain that those who convert thereafter, are true believers and not semi-willing only out of greed.

Third and finally, would the same semi-willing conversion be acceptable, if, say, a Muslim converted to Christianity? I am aware that I could be “justifiably” executed by an infuriated believer for asking this question. But, it begs an answerbecause some decades ago, all Missionary Institutions were being closed because they were accused of proselytizing with the lure of offering a better life to Hindus and some very poor Muslims.

The writer is a retired brigadier. He is also former vice president and founder of the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI)