Girl convert sent back to shelter home by court
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered to send Arzoo Fatima, a newly converted Muslim girl who married of her choice, back to the shelter home on her petition to let her go with her parents.
A two-judge bench headed by Justice KK Agha heard Arzoo’s plea. On the order of the court, the management of the shelter home produced Arzoo Fatima.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that Arzoo had voluntarily converted to Islam. For a year now, the shelter home administration has not allowed her to meet with her husband. Justice KK Agha remarked that the court had ordered to send the girl to a shelter home due to her young age. “We also ordered a good education for her,” Justice KK Agha remarked.
The court asked Arzoo, “Did you file the petition yourself?” Arzoo Fatima replied, “Yes, I have filed it.” The court asked, “Have you converted to Islam of your own free will?” “I am a Muslim and have voluntarily converted to Islam,” Arzoo said.
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Justice KK Agha remarked, “Can a Muslim girl live with her Christian parents?” The petitioner’s counsel argued that Arzoo is a Muslim and should be allowed to go with her husband Ali Azhar.
The court remarked that only the petition of Arzoo is being heard today. “We just want to decide on this request,” remarked the court. The court summoned Arzoo’s parents to the rostrum. The parents said they did not mind if the girl was a Muslim or a Christian. Ruling on the application, the court directed that Arzoo be sent back to the shelter home for the time being.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2021.