It has been estimated by various human rights organisations that every year 1000 girls from religious minorities are abducted, forcibly converted and married off to their abductors in Pakistan; particularly Hindus in Sindh and Christians in Punjab.
It is commonly observed in all cases of forced conversions of girls that the victim is abducted and is then subjugated to sustained emotional and physical abuse often involving threats of violence towards their loved ones.
In Sindh, reports of journalists, academics and numerous NGOs suggest that course of action in all allegedly forced conversions of Hindu girls is same: initially police often turn a blind eye to reports of abductions, creating impunity for perpetrators by refusing to record First Information Reports or falsifying the information, there by denying families the chance to take their case any further. The abducted girls are then forced to change their faith.
It has also been observed that thr judiciary is often subject to threats of reprisal from extremist elements. Because of this investigation of thr circumstances under which the conversion took place — including the age of the abductees. If the age of the abductees is taken into notice, then they are sent to shelter houses until they are 18 are then returned to their abductors.
Sarhandi shrine in Umer kot and Bharchundi shrine in Ghotki districts of Sindh, are synonymous with forced conversions of underage girls eloping with Muslim men. According to the intellectual circle of Sindh, it is the custodians of these shrines who are responsible. They are accused of being involved directly in this activity. In many cases, the ‘marriage’ that take place after the conversion are just for show. These girls go on to become victims of human trafficking and prostitution rings. This filthy and foul game has been played since the inception of this country by so-called religious authorities under the garb of religion.
It is commonly observed in all cases of forced conversions of girls that the victim is abducted and is then subjugated to sustained emotional and physical abuse often involving threats of violence towards their loved ones
Recently, it is reported first in local then in mainstream media that two Hindu girls Raveena (aged, 13) and Reena (aged, 15) were allegedly kidnapped by a group of ‘influential men’ from their home in Ghotki district of Sindh on the eve of Holi. Family members hold a demonstration soon after against these ‘influential men’ who abducted both sisters; but Sindh police claimed that two sisters had said in a recorded video neither anyone had abducted them nor held them hostage as they have left their home of their own will and then case was closed. After the viral of video on social media whom girls’ father and brothers were insisting that two sisters are abducted and forced to conversion of religion. Shamefully, soon after the viral of video, without any proper investigation, statement of IG Sindh police has come that these two girls had not been abducted.
In a current development, these two girls and the men they were reportedly married to approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to seek protection. A bench, headed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition on Tuesday. In its first hearing, court ruled that the girls identified as Asiya aka Raveena and Nadia aka Reena, and their husbands should be taken into government custody and asked all respondents to submit their replies.
The facts can be only found out after a thorough and impartial probe, and it is hoped that the investigation will be swift. The PM has taken notice of this case and the legal system does seem to be running its course. But beyond this, there is a need to address the systemic failure that continues to allow such tragedies to take place.
The founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his speech of August 11, 1947; clearly stressed that ‘there is no compulsion in religion’, which we are also taught by our religion. He said: “You are free; you are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan”. Unfortunately, over the course of 70 years the country has moved in the wrong direction. Constitutionally, equal rights of all minorities are guaranteed but practically, the minorities are not protected by them. This is a trend that seems to be getting worse. Furthermore, consider that once a person, forcibly or voluntarily, becomes a Muslim; then going back will be an act of apostasy, which is punishable by death.
In this juncture of complex phenomenon, there is a need of such kind of law for a whole country which elaborate that in any circumstances before age of 18 years, no conversion is acceptable and it is obvious that shrines, seminaries and clerics play key role in allegedly forced conversions, then by legislation they should be prohibited from converting non-Muslims. This right of making non-Muslims to fold of Islam should be given only at least to Court of Sessions or High Courts of this country by law. If parliamentarians and government, legislate accordingly, religious rights of minorities will be protected and practices of misusing religion of Islam for vested interests will take no place in allegedly forced conversions.
The writer is freelance contributor and can be reached at [email protected]