Conversing conversions

The legislators are in a tirade over a proposed piece of law that would bring in curbs on forceful conversions. This is easier said than done. It has hit snags over a host of perceptual and social issues. The minority members, who have pitched this bill in an attempt to outlaw forced conversions, are annoyed as a parliamentary committee rejected the bill against forced conversions after the Ministry of Religious Affairs opposed it. Minority members claim that the bill sailed smoothly through the ministry and the Council of Islamic Ideology, but has only been hampered as the government is under pressure.

A glance at the bill says that it is comprehensive in essence and addresses concerns of the minorities against forced conversions, and stipulates a formal procedure for willful conversions as per law. Its salient features are: any non-Muslim, who is not a child, and is able and willing to convert to another religion will apply for a conversion certificate from an additional sessions judge; the competent authority will set a date for interview and will ensure that the conversion is not under any duress or deceit. The converter will also be given time to study the religion, and testify to it, accordingly. The bill also proposes punishment from five to 10 years, and a fine for any person who uses force to convert a person to another religion.

There is nothing wrong in willful conversions, but it shouldn’t be under coercion. Apart from self-initiated intellectual aspects, conversions also take place due to luring compulsions. This is where the law of the land should come into play; and utmost caution should be exercised while navigating through sensitivities involved. The point of minority legislators is quite valid and up to mark: no one should be disgraced and forced to convert. At the same time, Islam too ensures that religion is by choice of faith after learning it by head and heart. The need is to reevaluate the bill’s fine print, in an attempt to ensure communal harmony in good faith.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2021.

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