Woman takes family to court for harassment over conversion

She and her husband were Christians but got married after embracing Islam

LAHORE: A woman, who recently embraced Islam, moved the court to seek justice against her family which she says is forcing her to revert to Christianity and part ways with her Muslim husband.

The petitioner, Kiran, told the court that she and her husband Yousaf were Christians. However, they later embraced Islam and tied the knot according to Islamic rituals on February 24.

“My family was unhappy because I embraced Islam and married of my own free will. My father and his brothers are now forcing me to revert to Christianity,” she said. “They say I will be killed if I don’t listen to them.”

She contended she and her husband were leading a happy life.

The woman alleged that the family, in connivance with the police, geared up to harass and pressure the couple.

Kiran added that on February 20, SHO Shalimar along with other officials raided her house and violated the sanctity of their home just to cause humiliation.

“My husband and I were not involved in any crime so why our house was raided?” she asked officials, who did not reply. She said that according to the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, every citizen has equal status.

The petitioner said public functionaries were bound to act according to the law, but the dictum had been violated by the respondents with impunity in this case.

She requested the court order the SHO to give protection to the couple. Kiran also asked that the respondents be restrained from harassing the couple.

The judge has ordered the area SHO not to harass the couple.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2017.