KARACHI:
Too many, marriage is considered as one of the most important decisions of one’s life. However, there are people in Pakistan who do not have the liberty to make this decision themselves. In a nutshell, a forced marriage is a marriage which takes place against one’s will, or a marriage that you forcefully agree to under coercive circumstances. Every 1 out of 5 people ends up in a forced marriage. As of 2019, about 21% of women were reported to have been married forcefully. Furthermore, it is estimated that at least 1,000 Christian and Hindu women are abducted and forcibly married every year. This practice is particularly rampant in far-flung areas where minors are bought and sold specifically for this purpose. This is the deplorable reality in our country that we must come to accept.
It is important to understand that forced marriage not only violate basic human rights but also go against the concept of righteousness of marriage in Islam. It is a form of extreme violence and abuse against not just women but even men and children. Forced marriages can have lasting consequences if not rectified immediately. Pakistan needs to confront the ignorant ideology of forced marriages and tackle it sensitively. It is extremely necessary that we put an end to forced marriages as it has already ruined the lives of many.
Maria Naseem
Turbat
Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2021.
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