The Sindh Assembly has passed a historic and remarkable law against forced conversion of religion in the province
FAISALABAD: The Sindh Assembly has passed a historic and remarkable law against forced conversion of religion in the province. This is great bid to protect minorities across Sindh. Religious minorities claimed that government actions to stem the problem were inadequate. Several human rights groups highlighted the increased phenomenon of Hindu girls, particularly in Sindh, being kidnapped from their families and forced to convert to Islam.
Indeed, the new bill will end the plight of minority Hindus, who will feel more secure and protected now. Forced conversion of religion is inhumane, un-Islamic and an abhorrent practice. There is no space of forced conversion in Islam. The Qur’an absolutely does not promote using violence as a means of conversion. In fact, there is an entire chapter in the Qur’an dedicated to showing how Muslims should act with those of a different religion.
Forced conversion has long been an issue in Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country. It mainly affects Hindus, who make up two-and-a-half per cent of Pakistan’s population, with about 90 per cent of them living in Sindh. Christians account for another 1.6 per cent of the population. The new law is a ray of hope for non-Muslim communities of Pakistan and will put a stop to injustice against the minorities.
Engr Mansoor Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2016.
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