KARACHI: A Hindu's conversion to Islam live on television during a prime-time Ramazan chat show has sparked criticism on behalf of religious minorities.
In just five minutes, the 20-year-old introduced as Sunil officially changed his religion under a cleric's guidance.
A packed studio audience congratulated him and shouted out suggestions for his new Muslim name before he was renamed Mohammad Abdullah - the consensus choice.
Abdullah insisted on Friday that he had been a willing convert.
"I have accepted Islam by my own will and my family has no objection," he told AFP by telephone from the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust, where a staff member said he has worked as their office boy for the last six years.
But the country has been criticised by rights groups for showing an increased lack of tolerance towards religious minorities, who complain of discrimination, and critics blasted the show, broadcast by ARY on Wednesday.
"The joy with which the conversion was greeted and the congratulations that followed sent a clear signal that other religions don't enjoy the same status in Pakistan as Islam does," wrote Dawn, on Friday.
"In a country where minorities are already treated as second-class citizens in many ways, this served to marginalise them even further," it said.
It was a second recent controversy for chat show host Maya Khan, who was this year sacked by Sama TV after chasing couples in a public park, accusing them of behaving immorally.
Ramesh Kumar, a leader of the Pakistan Hindu Council, told AFP that Wednesday's programme would encourage intolerance.
"We are already intimidated against. The government gives little heed to the kidnapping of Hindus and forced faith conversion of our girls. Please don't do things that make us more alienated," he told AFP.
Talat Hussain, who hosts a political show on DawnNews, also warned against turning religion into mass entertainment.
"Think about how Muslims would feel when Buddhists in Burma show similarly a Muslim being converted in a live TV show," he told AFP.
According to Pakistan government figures, Hindus make up 2.5% of the country's population of around 180 million.
Footage of the conversion begins at the 8:30 mark in the attached video.
COMMENTS (211)
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If Sunil i think his age between 20-30 doesn't understand the Hinduism through out his life than what will he understand the Islam .
A great day for Islam and Pakistan. First ever conversion live on television, any where in the world.
@asad anwar: What will be our response if a Muslim is converted to Hinduism in a live show in anyother country.
@asad anwar: It seems like the guy has gone underground fearing for his life. TV has made him a Muslim, if he claims he is Hindu, some Muslim will kill him. Mullahs will not let him speak the truth. Even a Pakistani Muslim human rights activist says it was a drama where Sunil was mislead. Let us pray for his safety.
enormity of the incidence and the scale of riots broke out right after the partition caught every one by surprise.Secondly,
Still going on. Many pandits and sikhs have left Kashmir. Terrorists know how to do it. They just pull up few dozens people out of their homes and kill them point blank. Rest of the people leave quickly. All this is done in the name of religion. Thirty five sikhs were shot dead by LeT terrorists wearing Indian army unifrom before Bill Clinton's visit to India and Indian army was blamed for the attack.
Even there was a news about how a Jihadi camp was attacked before a Pakistani prime minster's visit to USA to show Pakistan was serious about terrorism. A phone call warned the top Jihadi leaders to stay away. Phone call was recorded by a Western secret service.
@Rahman: Rahman bhai, rest assured that this can never happen in India, No prime entertainment channel will dare to show such dastardly act on TV. The people of my country will be enraged with this audacity and the TV ppl will be behind bars. Secondly, Pak will create a huge issue out of this and will leave nothing in its control to instigate Muslims in India and use it as a ploy to make International society believe that India is no more a safe place for minorities.
Beside that, rest assured that our Muslim brothers are safer in India and we will make sure that they never feel alienated. I know you would point fingers towards few bad incidences but they are really very few and far between. Muslims are safe here as long as Hindus are in majority in India, because we will safeguard the democracy and we dont have anything called Sharia that needs to be imposed.
@R: Dear R, First of all India owes nothing to the Hindus who decided to stay back in what is now called Pakistan.The enormity of the incidence and the scale of riots broke out right after the partition caught every one by surprise.Secondly, i agree with the problem you mentioned about resettlement. But all these can be resolved, if Indian politicians have the will. They will not because Hindus can not be used as a Vote back neither by Congress nor by BJP.
I seriously would advice all the Hindus residing in Pak now to convert to Islam. This will at least save them the atrocities that they have to face every day. Being able to live safely and with respect and with equal opportunity is more important than what religion you follow.
I am a staunch Hindu myself and i am bleeding in my heart when i am writing the above paragraph but for me the safety of minority Hindus in Pak is more important even if for this they have to leave my beloved religion, as i do not see any other way to save them.
Praying for mercy from Muslims in Pak is useless as they are turning into hardliners with each day and for them converting others is a holy deed. So let them earn it. The way things are moving i will not be surprised if The Sharia is imposed in Pak in next 5 years and the country succumbs to Taliban may be in next Ten years.
@Mrs QASIM: " kindly do not speak of things you clearly know nothing about. There is no death penalty in Islamic sharia for Irtida / apostasy.
Please search :iranian pastor convert" on the internet. Feb 22, 2012 ... A trial court in Iran has issued its final verdict, ordering a Christian pastor to be put to death for leaving Islam and converting to Christianity, ...
Muslims take their religion very seriously. A few weeks back ? a mentally ill Muslims was burned to deathfor blasphemy by a mob lead by Mullahs in Pakistan.
Any petitions out there that can be signed against this?
Ugh, if I were a non-muslim in Pakistan there is nothing that would have persuaded me to convert to Islam. People are so deluded and confused about their own religion that it's a travesty. And I say that as a proud Muslim.
I have a question: Can a Muslim change his/her religion in Pakistan? and could any channel even ARY would dare to telecast like that?
Answer will be NO.
We reall dont kow if he converted to Islam wilingly or it was just a facade. How about if he converts back to Hinduism, how will the TV and public will respond. I dont think they will take it lightly. Probably some one issue a Fatwa against him, so much for the religion in Pakistan. Is this the same Pakistan which was asked for by Quaide Azam in 1947. @asad anwar:
@Rahman You say that there is nothing wrong in changing one's religion. So should I believe that your religion also accepts a change of religion from Islam to some other religion? I donot think that is the fact. Then no religion has a right to ask people of other religions to convert.That is the sanity and civic behaviour.
Islam teaches us tolerence in the society, which creates harmony among people of different school of thoughts/ religions. All we have to do is to follow basic rules of Islam, noteably tolerence and fight against in-justice, then there is no need for any such talk shows on TV.
after years we learn knews of some non Muslim converting to Islam in a Muslim majority country. It shows that character od Pakistani Muslims plays no role in convincing non Muslims to change their faith. it is a matter concern rather shame. Are Muslims allowed change of their faith following liberty allowed by Quranic verse "laa ikraha fiddin" Javed
What a lot of garbage... What is PEMRA doing? these so called channels will go down any level to grab the ratings... Pathetic stuff from ARY.
@Syed Owais Mukhtar: kindly do not speak of things you clearly know nothing about. There is no death penalty in Islamic sharia for Irtida / apostasy. If you are going to make such controversial claims you need to back it up with reference from Quran, Sunnah or Ahadis. In Islam there is on compulsion in religion. One can join or leave out of their own free will.
@Zeenat: and how can he contact you . He will give it free to you.
@SaqibTahir: "Ansar Burney termed the entire “Hindu to Muslim” conversion as a “drama” by tweeting, “my worker has full right of freedom but what Sunil told me is a painful story of drama so I have to take action.”
Probably the guy was tricked in0t this. I hope some jounalist can risk his life and investigate the truth.
Shocking and atrocious! Lets leave aside the matter of religion being a personal life choice.
My question is, has Maya Khan learnt nothing from the public park debacle? Perhaps she thinks she may redeem her reputation by being a matchmaker of sorts. I am beginning to question the self respect or lack there of of these so-called tv "hosts".
@SaqibTahir: According to Ansar Burney, Sunil is a worker within Ansar Burney Trust and who was deliberately used by anchor Maya Khan for a recent Ramadan transmission whereby Sunil was seen converting as a Muslim.
Another Kargil by media, they mislead this poor guy and public. I hope they don't kill him for saying he is Hindu because TV show has made him a Muslim.
@Rahman
You said that anti-muslims will use it malign islam and muslims, and I hate to say but musliims do the maligning themselves without the aid anti-muslims by doing nothing to stop the nonsense going on the islamic world, such as the illiteracy, equal rights, religious persecutions, and killings. You can't blame outside third parties when it is quite obvious who is doing what and to whom. You are right, islam is being abused, but the problem is, no one is doing anything about and until something is done about it, nothing will ever change.
Secondly, if this gentleman left his religion, to be part of another, and he did it of his own free will, as a Westerner and Christian, I do not see anything wrong with it because it was HIS CHOICE.
However, on the other hand, if a man decides to change his religion from islam to another by his own free will, no one has the right to say anything except, pat the person on the back, and wish them well on their spiritual journey.
I will say this though, imagine the uproar if a muslim man decided to change his religion from islam to Hinduism or even Christianity? They would be calling for his death, there would be attempts on the life of not just the man, but also on the television staff that aired the program. Didn't Ali Jinnah say, that your religion has nothing to do with the business of the State and that every one is entitled to equality under the law regardless of religion? Hmm, seems like people are hypocrites when failing to understand their history.
Dear Pakistanis........Pl come out from your religious bigotry........see the world with little compassion, little bit love and little bit sympathy towards other religion.......I'm sure you will fell a lot happy than ever. See the world view about you and your country....How many time you say that everybody is wrong and only you are right.....can you allow the same yard stick when it happens in your country.......Yesterday one British minister told something about your country and you come out denying it. How many times you've denied the world and its allegation? Can you say that everybody is against you and if so why? You know It is called ostrich like action, when you just don not want to see the writing in the wall. Don't we feel happy on any purported and orchestrated drama like the conversion of one Sunil into Islam.......It really pains to non Muslims........and just increases more hatred toward you. God bless you, May god bless you with reason.........
Just think for a second, if it would have been done India what would have been your reaction?
Maya Khan does it again. Why was she hired by ARY when fired by SAMAA TV. Coming to the topic, we love non muslims converting to Islam and I am sure people of other faith would also like Muslims converting to their faith. No controversy there. Unfortunately in present scenario, such shows will dramatically increase intolerance, create insecurity in minorities and indirectly strengthen the hands of those indulging in forced conversions. Once you see a smiling Hindu embracing ISLAM on TV, it will be difficult to believe forced conversions going on in backward, rural, feudal setting. Sorry to say, I severely doubt if MAYA KHAN is even half as pious and religious as portrayed on religious shows. Only an actor in TV drama can embrace a personality at odd with his real life. You simply cannot have a dual faced personality when hosting a serious talk show unless you intend to entertain in extremely poor taste and in non serious manner. THIS IS PURE HYPOCRACY. If the TRP ratings so dictate, we may soon see Meera and her likes making announcement of moon sighting instead of a bearded / unattractive Maulana and Veena Malik reciting Urdu translation of Quran. We got to stop this madness of milking religious issues / topics for their entertainment value. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON US.
"Live conversion on Maya Khan’s show stirs anger" Where exactly it stir anger? abroad? across the border? well, certainly not in Pakistan which is a muslim country still at this point. Maybe the ignorant should tune into evangelical channels in the U.S for example and watch the biggest mullahs live before complaining too much about a country whose name still has the word" Islamic". Weird country and even weirder press...............
Being a Muslim myself and living in USA, I am at a loss to understand how law can be unequal in cases of Muslims and non-Muslims. If a Muslim coverts to Hinduism or Christianity, his or her punishment is DEATH. Where's justice in that equation?
@Syed Owais Mukhtar, Why does us muslim sees ISLAM as the ONLY holy religion. Sometimes, such approach shows a high level of insecurity and inferiority complex. If you read unbiased history, most of the islamic scholars learnt lot of things from other religion, they travelled far with open minds to learn things. Just to give you example the widespread Arabic numeric system is actually what islamic scholars learnt in india, and started using it. When europeans came to arabian peninsula they learnt the number system from arabic tribes, and incorrectly calling it arabic numeric system. At least, europeans were honest in giving the credits due where it was, unlike our islamic scholars that simply accepted the honour with grace. All ancient mathematics, trignometry, geomet+ry were derived from ancient vedic/hindu wisdom that our scholars adopted. Good thing with them was at least they learnt things with open mind and thats why they succeeded. Unlike us who suffer from delusional superiority complex.
@Babur Sohail: "“Second class citizen” Please tell me whether muslims or pakistanis living in europe or US are not treated as “Second-class citizen”?????? it happens everywhere. Don’t be so sensitive about this."
Pakistanis are treated better in US and Europe then Saudi arabia. Saudis treat Pakistanis as servany class. Arabs don't let arab women maeey Pakistanis as Pakistanis are considered lower caste. Muslims have more freedom in US and Europe and they can even marry WHITE women to get green card.
Religion is one's private matter, its no surprise Pakistani or global bares no shame in turning religion into mass entertainment. Shame on you Maya Khan! Shame on you Media!
@Shah:
Google islam-watch.org and meet (ex) Muslims who have renounced Islam.
What is wrong with Maya Khan? We live in an extremely polarized society and people like Maya Khan are trying to make it even more polarized. I am 100% sure that Maya Khan knew that this action of hers will create a controversy. People like Maya Khan, religious fanatics and left-wing extremists are the bane of this Nation.
Aree sab tamasha tha TV TRP ka, aisey Musalaman bana jata hai hahhahha !!!The height of ideocity all sane people can question such action I mean what was the purpose of this live coverage of a conversion ???? This is totally condemned and cannot be recognised as a sane way of conversion by anyone. Ansar Burney has taken up the matter and sueing the Channel owner and Maya Khan with 10 million sterling pound. He has another story, the boy's side to tell. It could also be a strategy to destroy the image and credibility of Ansar Sb who has a positive image in India and sabotage his work promoting peace, tolerance and harmony. Otherwise how about another live coverage of a Muslim to another religion ? Will one tolerate that ??????
Christian evangelical channels show people converting to Christianity everyday in the West. Just because a Hindu converts to Islam on TV, it becomes "disgusting".
i have no objection or i dont mind his conversion,, what i see here is lack of respect for others belief.! i am a christian, i am a patriotic pakistani! but this kind of subjects makes me feel less patriotic! please dont let us feel that we are less humans! we all pray for the betterment of Our beloved country! religion is a personal matter! humanity first!
Friends I belong to Religious Minority Group but if Sunil (Abdullah) accepted Islam his own will than i have no problem because every person has right to choice faith but if this activity done forcedly than its really condemnable and especially the way was adopted to present this conversion scene was showed that this country is only for Muslims and almost all institute just for my Muslims friends. Is there no any ethics to respect the human beings and their belongings.
when asked about any specific reason/liking the guy had no clear answer?. And look at his age.... this is an age of emotionalism instead of a well thought out and mature decision.
no problem it his personal choice in inida father can be muslim and mother can be hindu and their children can be cristian. freedom of practising religion guranteed in the constitution.
Usually a ceremoney will be conducted on that auspious day they put the boy in the horse and take him to the nearby masque and cut open the skin of his private part. but not in the tv station.
@Rehman Your last four lines said it all (especially in Pakistan).
The pope baptised a Muslim journalist in Vatican City, Italy in a Continent where the percentage of Muslim population doesn't reach double digits and Muslims in Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia and elsewhere were outraged because press was invited in. But Hindu converts to Islam: and its freedom of religion out of a sudden.
@Hafeez Pasha: If a Muslim converts to another religion willingly, will Muslims accept it?
I am fed up of wrong reporting of tribune Theie job is to atleast report right figures
One example is saying that hindu represent 2.5% of population while act. Figures are less than0.8% behind christians whom are 1%
Second example is quoting forced converstions while ignoring what happened in the court Even bloggers are more accurate
what about Muslims converting to other religions? by the way religion and capitalism are so chummy on private tv channels in Pakistan. religion sells and fake piety increases ratings. If we get a little wiser we will see that market now rules over us and uses whatever it can to sell prodcuts and create consumers. lagay ra ho bhai.
For the people asking what would happen if a muslim converted to hinduism - sorry but it just doesn't happen.
@asad anwar: There may be a girl behind this conversion.
I am glad a Muslim did not convert to Hinduism on TV otherwise Muslims would have burned the TV station along with the person trying to convert to Hinduism.
What a big deal an office booy converts to Islam? This whole drama shows Muslims think very low of their religgion and have a great need to show, LOOK AN OFFICE BOY converted to Islam.
@faheem: What if Muslim converted other religion?Would that be on prime time TV?
I always have a feeling that Maya Khan wants to make religious bigots and organizations a potential backup for her.What she did in January was a mxture of activities by Shiv Sena,Ram Sena and Talibans but with camera and crew rather than weapons. I live in Canada,here a Muslim can change his faith/religion without any legal consequence and same is the case for non-Muslims if they want to enter the fold of Islam.And death penalty for apostasy is something that goes against principles of The Holy Quran.
For Maya Khan,whose "public service" in the parks of Karachi is still fresh in our minds,I just want to share an incident from the life of Hazrat Umar Farooq Razi Allahu Anhu in the blessed month of Ramadhan.
The second caliph, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattâb, used to patrol the streets of Medina personally to make sure that justice was being done and everyone's needs were being met. One evening as he was passing a house, he overheard sounds from behind the wall of the courtyard. Listening, He climbed over the wall and found people drinking wine. He said that you are caught doing something immoral.
The owner of the house put down his glass and said, "You're right, O ‘Umar, I have violated one of the laws of Islam by drinking wine. But you have just violated three laws at once: 1) The Prophet ordered: Do not eavesdrop on one another. But you eavesdropped on us. 2)The Qur’an says: Enter houses by their doors. (2:189) But you entered by climbing over the wall.And, 3)The Qur’an says you have to ask permission to enter a house and greet people with salâm (peace) when you enter. (24:27) But you didn't ask permission or offer a greeting."
Omar (R.A.) had to admit that the fellow was right. And it is said that he broke down due to the feeling of being guilty. This was a caliph and look at Maya Khan and her own version of Khilafat these days.......Shameless
There is no news in this article. It is qouting Dawn fro anger. Tribune always try to find something to criticize. Then they don't have courage to put these comments.
many people (muslims) will be gutted to see this conversion and (like the comments above) they cant digest the news, inc the publishing house....
....anyways, the telecasting on TV for the purpose of entertainment and commercial reasons is despicable.
Islam has found new preachers in the form of Maya khan and Aamir Liaqat. Maya khan is increasing the number of Muslims. What a precious "national asset" she is!
Guys...what's there to be criticised? Doesn't make any sense!
@Hafeez Pasha: If a muslim decides to convert to any other religion will muslims accept that.?
If ZAKIR NAIK can convert hindus to mulsims on live television in India, why not someone can on Pakistan...?????????????????????????
@Babloo: true... this is something most of us are happily oblivious of.
@ALi: AT least the sane only cry, not go out on the streets and kill those who they think have strayed. Its not about being liberal, respecting minorities does not make you liberal (well, it does but NOT in the sense that you extremists mean). Does Islam not teach us to respect the minorities?? Or it teaches us to disrespect minorities? something that people like you wish to imply and want to impose on us and our religion!!! Respecting other's rights does not make you non-Muslim (or liberal in your world). Liberals are saner and more religious then extremists like you. Imagine this being shown live.... in a Hindu dominated area/country where a Muslim converts to Hinduism and the whole of Pakistan will rise in anger, calling it phony and a disgrace to Islam, same goes for our Hindu brothers, have some respect.
All religions are basically for betterment of society .Offering rewards for good obedience is old traditions. Religion is also a tool for controlling people. But in these days every one is so carried away with religion which caused the birth of extremism and have no tolerance within their own religion .. which is a very bad thing. every one is answerable to his God for his sins.There are people who has no religion, but they are good human.They also live their lives happily To look down on other religions is not teaching of Islam. Pakistani media should have some guide lines and respect not to take part for this type of drama.
@Farhan: Because nobody watches or cares about what happens on Peace TV. ARY on the other hand has massive number of viewers.
Just when we thought we could fall no further... !
Mis-use of media platform....ARY crew needs to learn it.
This shameful TV was really disgusting...it should be prosecuted and punished...they should also conversions of Muslims..
Also, if a Muslim would convert, he would be condemned to death.
I think Talat hit the nail on its head. Double standard much?
Being a Catholic, if I wanted to convert to Hinduism, no TV Channel in India would be interested. Nor would any TV channel treat me as a triumph. . As it is, I hope you know that the word "Hindu" derives from "Sindhu" or the Indus river that flows through Pakistan right now. I have always considered Hinduism to be the Indian way of life; Its what we all did long before Bin Qasim came riding on his camel around 710 AD and died at the ripe old age of 20. By the way, the Mopillah Muslims from Kerala, India have been Muslims long before Bin Qasim. In fact the Cheraman Masjid in Kerala built in 629 AD is the second oldest mosque in the world. . While I rarely go to temples in India, I visit the ISKCON temple in Flushing frequently when I am in New York just to be with my fellow countrymen and share the same food. Trust me, I have met Pakistanis and Bangladeshis there too.
Currently I am a.Muslim but want to change my religion. Maya please help me broadcast on your show...
now Sunil can sell his Alcohol permit because he will not be needing it any longer ..
Now we can understand why Muslims are hated right from Myanmar to Canada. These fellows are now creating a situation in non-Muslim countries to force minorities to embrace the majority religion.
@ManishJ: if I was poor Hindu living in Pakistan, I would not be able to afford migration. Secondly, if my fellow villagers came to know of my plans, they would be so angry at my "arrogance" and "temerity" to think "I could get away from the inevitable" that they would probably kill me. Thirdly, who would I approach on the Indian side legally? It is not that like Israeli government, Indians have out in place an efficient mechanism for all Hindus, Christians, etc in Pakistan to migrate without hassles. It is my fellow Indians fault that they didn't think through this huge problem. After all t partition time, we thought we lived in India and we were taken by surprise developments; we were taken in by false promises of Jinnah!! India owes us the cost and effort to resettle us.
The difference between India and Pakistan is the difference between Aamir Khan and Maya Khan.
ISLAMABAD - Former expert advisor to the United Nations on Human Rights Ansar Burney has recently stated that he would file a legal suit against Maya Khan for creating a drama and using his worker Sunil without his permission for her Television show. Burney tweeted this statement on his official Twitter account on Friday. “Anchor Maya Khan again created dirty drama by inviting my office worker Sunil to her show without my permission to convert him Muslim,” tweeted Burney. Burney also tweeted that he would send a legal notice to Maya Khan and TV owners of 10 million sterling pounds. “The ‘Burney Legal Solicitors’ London is going to send legal Notice to anchor Maya Khan and TV owners of 10 million sterling pounds,” further tweeted the former federal minister for Human Rights. Ansar Burney termed the entire “Hindu to Muslim” conversion as a “drama” by tweeting, “my worker has full right of freedom but what Sunil told me is a painful story of drama so I have to take action.” According to Ansar Burney, Sunil is a worker within Ansar Burney Trust and who was deliberately used by anchor Maya Khan for a recent Ramadan transmission whereby Sunil was seen converting as a Muslim.
rubbish rubbish rubbish. those responsible will have to answer one day.
Let Maya Khan & else do, what they want to do. Dnt impose ur philosophy on others. It is another extreme
Why can't he keep his first name Sunil? May be call himself Sunil mohamad? Can he now marry a muslim girl, or will he have to convert a Hindu girl to marry? Would any of you congratulating him allow him to marry your sister/ daughter?
Gosh... Why we do not have professional code of conducts and even of ethics for the media.
We all observe that such acts can easily create unrest ....then what is the need of doing them...
do we feel happy provoking others....
as Ghalib stated...."bohat he nazuk sorat-e-haal hai"
sometimes it is better to ignore by not being part of the controversy
Liberals are crying out loud!!
Even if the conversion was out of his own free will it shouldn't have been broadcast like that. Imagine if a Muslim had converted to another religion and if it was broadcasted the way this has been, our clerics would have come up with God knows how many fatwa's and rallies. Religion is a personal thing and should be treated as such.
People who host such programmes like Maya Khan is not aware of Journalism and code of ethics . This type of entertainment only for getting higher viewer rating.
It was a very distasteful show.....faith should remain a personal matter..not to be used for promotional purpose....how woukd the society react if a muslim is shown converting to another religion...its height of hypocrisy
It was a very distasteful show.....faith should remain a personal matter..not to be used for promotional purpose... .how would the society react if a muslim is shown converting to another religion?...its height of hypocrisy.
What narrow minded minorities you have in Pakistan! They cheered him because of his conversion to Islam - not because of his apostasy from Hinduism. People celebrate when someone wins (of course the other loses) which doesn't mean they celebrate the loss of other.
of course changing ones religion is a private matter BUT showing it on a live media is just a cheap publicity stunt & totally un-acceptable...this will only cause hatred between people...a slap on the face of pakistani media who claim themselves to be having "open mind & perception "
To be frank and blunt, did that "converted" person find ONLY Mira's show to have "instructions" to convert to Islam? Ridiculous.
@afzaalkhan:
You cry a river for Burma too pelase.
@Syed Owais Mukhtar: you seem to be living in another World, violating the norms of UN that State should respect and protect all types of minorities incloding religious minorities.
All these lovely fellow muslims saying FREE WILL CONVERTED OF HIS OWN CHOICE ITS OK, I'd like to see what they'd say when the tables are turned.
Frothing at the mouth with blood in their eyes and guns in their hands? Yes I think so, that is what would happen.
Do not make a Tamasha out of a religion. Faith is too sacred a matter for believers. Maya Khan you did no favour to any one by staging an entertainment out of sentiments of minorities who already feel vulnerable.
Faith is our private matter. Do not make a circus out of it.
Maya you are spreading intolerance and your tactics are offensive toward Pakistanis in general and in particular towards minorities.
I am wonder what would would ARY newscasters say to a newsitem that a Muslim has converted to Hinduism, Buddhism or Christianity in a Hindu Majority, Buddhist majority or a Christian majority country? They will cry their heart out saying that the whole world is against Islam and Muslims and this is shown in the recent conversion of a Muslim in a live broadcast.
Oh the outcry, cry me a river. Good for maya khan.
Minorities or Hindus getting ANGRY of someone else's conversion is INTOLERANCE.
Coming to whether it would have been acceptable if a Muslim converted to Hinduism. It would have been ok if that happened on some hindu religious channel on a hindu religious show, just like we see such things on christian religious shows. But yes it is mostly not acceptable to many in Pak if such a thing happens. Ideally this should be acceptable too.
@Rahman:
You are right on the mark, Rehman. I wish something could be done to change the fabric of our society in Pakistan.
With dramas like this is it little wonder that there is so little respect for the country and its religion.
No problem in being Muslim, just be a good human being first and kind to other human beings.
Islam provides complete free will to minorities to convert to Islam.
But Islam has set the death penalty for a Muslim apostate, because it is the true religion, which is proven logically and scientifically.
So there is nothing wrong in the TV show.
How about a live TV show in which a Muslim is shown to convert to Hinduism, Buddhism or any other faith? Will that be acceptable to the audience?
Sunil and the Mullah recite a few verses of Quran and there you are, Sunil has become a proud Muslim in just three minutes on a live TV show. Two names are suggested by the audience and the Mullah picks one of them and names him Muhammad Abdullah. Congratulations ! For now he's safe in Pakistan and his future is secure. He'll no more have to pay jejiya tax and face discrimination that Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Ahmediyas face in Pakistan. He won't face death threats from the extremists from now on. He's also booked his place in heaven. What a great day for Sunil, I mean, Muhammad Abdullah. Seriously how easy it is to convert to Islam. Is it a joke?
Please do not dramatise religion.Maya and dr Shahid ,use brain not religion for rating.
There we go again.....another controversy...
doing this as a tv gimmick just to get ratings is appalling and defies any sort of moral or religious boundaries.
@Banaras Khan: How would that make everyone feel? The studio will be set on fire to begin with, the host and the convert will be charged with blasphemy and then some true Muslim will kill them and become a ghazi, also their families will be killed/torutred all for us pious Pakistani Muslims to go to heaven. MashaAllah, Islam for TV ratings like a soap opera and the fanatic population jumping up and down in joy over this!! how low can we stoop????
Let me ask you guys :
What if a Muslim converted to Hinduism on the live tv..
Would we all still be shrugging our shoulders and saying .. "if he has done on his own free will, then its ok"..
Lot of hypocrites..
@akash: Yea, that's some serious trouble for u people.
@Babloo: Dear Babloo , there's one aspect u missed, that being the spiritual side. People convert for spiritual reasons, and more to make their spiritual lives easier.
@abid: Converting on his own will is perfectly fine but doing it live on tv isn't right. It mustve hurt feelings of Hindus across the country.
Also, now Maya Khan is a hero all of a sudden when everyone knows what she did earlier and also lied about the show with the couples being paid actors, how can the people celebrating with joy trust this very dubious conversion in a show hosted by none other than Maya Khan, just hypocrites we are.
@AD: What's the fuss about?? Nobody forced him to accept islam live on tv. and what's the fuss about congratulating him.. it's a common custom that whenever a person enters islam people congratulate him, welcome him. Grow up.
what kind of tv are we promoting...sad..
If he really wanted to convert, why come on TV and convert? Is this a way to convert? to come on Maya Khan's show and convert? I would not object to him converting in a religious gathering shown on a religious channel but to come on Maya khan's show and convert is nothing but sensationalism. Shame on Pakistani people here who have made Islam a soap opera, selling it live on TV, Islam is not a TV series, how misguided have we become???!!!! and it is just plain insensitive to our Hindu brothers to show this live on TV. If opposite happens I am sure we will be burning the studio down the very next minute, shouting wajib-ul-qatal.
Maya Khan does it to us all ----- again !
I saw so many comments about his free will in conversion. If Pakistan was a secular country I should have supported this theory but unfortunately Pakistan is a Mulla country
Hypocrites !
@Habib A.: Wake up brother from dreaming. You mean Pakistan heaven for Hindus?????
@Syed Owais Mukhtar: Keep it to yourself dont try to impose it on others
So Maya Khan is at at again. If conversions of faith are shown on evangelical TV channels its what they are up to. However showing this on an entertainment channel is wrong to say the least.
Will the ARY channel ready to host a programme which shows Christian missionaries accepting conversions from Muslims or other religions?
Religious beliefs and practices need to be one's own preferences and choices and there is no need to either glorify someone's piety or conversion or change of beliefs.
Oh Maya Khan when the TV viewers will be rid of the likes of you and other evangelists seen on Pakistani TV
where is the damn Pemra why do they not come and fine the tc channel owner , supreme court shud take action
This woman is extremely controversial. Why was she hired by ARY to begin with? Our media has no values. Just greed for ratings. Its shameful, despicable.
@kashif: friend that is called apostasy and not acceptable is islam rather punishable by death penalty as per islamic law.
"What if muslim decides to convert to hinduism on live television on his/her own will?"
My guess, the TV station will be attacked, probably set on fire. The host dismissed from job and both the convert and the host charged with blasphemy. The family of the convert would be on the run .
Religion is sure an entertainment for these likes in media
MashAllah! may Allah save him from the fake hypocrite liberals.
The headline is biased. You should say 'live conversion' or 'live conversion on ARY'. It's not just maya khan's show. Shahid massod is also a part of it.
Yesterday there was news report of couple that converted from Christianity to Islam and then back to Christianity. And now they are on the run after receiving death threats. Let’s televise their religious journey
I hate to say this, but it looks like another rating game from MAYA KHAN. Its a shame how media is promoting people like MAYA for religious shows where they could call many good scholars out there.
Media is out of jackt. Hosting religious programme by a showbiz person is a disgraceful attitude towards religion.
Conversion out of ones free will will make sense if Pakistan were a secular society. So long as minorities are treated as less than equals, free will is bound to have been compromised.
My girlfriend is Pakistani. Neither us are religious I hope this will not be a problem for us when we get married by our free-will.
Maya khan tv shows are absurds, pathetic and full of crap.........
i could be wrong but i guess Ancher person just trying to get fame by cheap tactics. As a muslim we would be offended if same had happened some where else.
We need to respect other religions and minorities living with us.
I thought TV shows are for entertaining people not replacing worship place,everyone in Pakistan is using religion for their self interests but no one follows the teachings of islam.
I only have one question. What would you think if a Muslim converted to Hinduism? How would that make everyone feel?
@Roflcopter: I don't want to be lynched :)
maya malik .. veena khan .. translocation of identity info in my brain
Nothing wrong indeed
Religion is very personal affair and showing such conversions on television certainly makes the minorities feel unsafe and intimidated. Our TV channels in their competition for ratings have crossed all the professional, ethical guidelines. What a sorry figure to cut :(
@Mj, how about you set the example?
It was the right of that boy who embraced Islam by his own will. Why Pakistani media is silent on Indonesia, where 2 million (yes TWO MILLION) Muslims are being converted to Chrtanity. Why Western media is not doing stories on that issue. Pakistani media should protect the issue of its country's pricipl stance. They should not play in the hands of anti-Pakistan forces.
100 bucks he is an actor too just like mayas previous episode.
Over the hundred of years the history is proof , no one has changed his or her religion willingly. Show us any country where the majority population has changed itself willingly to minority unless under direct sword or gun Therefore this is a disgrace
"Second class citizen" Please tell me whether muslims or pakistanis living in europe or US are not treated as "Second-class citizen"?????? it happens everywhere. Don't be so sensitive about this.
How about showing a Muslim converting to Hinduism? Will you show that on live TV? What will be the audience reaction?
Well first of all, heartiest congratulations to dear brother Muhammad Abdullah for choosing the right and true religion and giving preference to an eternal life in paradise full of pleasure and joy.
Secondly, Mr. Talat Hussain, that is a poor comparison. Hindus are not being openly slaughtered in Pakistan en masse. If anything Muslims are being killed openly by American drones in large numbers. Therefore there is no comparison between the dire and inhumane situation in Burma and the situation of Hindus in Pakistan. Hindus in Pakistan enjoy full rights. I have met many Hindus and other minorities in Karachi and most were equal citizens, working hard to make a living just like Muslims here. SO please, next time, think before making such ludicrous comparisons.
And finally, why does the liberal fascist faction in Pakistan object to such things? After all we are an Islamic nation and a Muslim-majority nation. And these shows are aired on privately-owned channels, not sponsored or aired by the government. Private citizens should have freedom to air things which the vast majority of public does not object to. The vast majority of Pakistani Muslims welcome such shows and their respect for the media increases due to this.
If you don't like it here, go somewhere else. Perhaps next door would be a good option.
Long live Pakistan.
An insensitive, despicable and disgusting nation. One nation goes to extreme lengths for minority appeasement and another nation makes a joke of the feelings of the minorities in its territory. We don't want your shows on our television, thank you.
Well said me.rahman..
I urge all fellow Pakistani brothers and sisters to not watch this show and deprive them the ratings for which they have humiliatingly pulled off this stunt. Shame on you ARY
What if I have a video which shows a muslim willing converting to christianity ? Will the same television show that video ?
i think this issue has been blown out of proportion...
Minorities have a point and a valid one at that.
I wonder why Hindus are still living in a country which has declared itself Muslim? If they have chosen to do so, they should be ready to be subjected to such things. Infact for their own benefit they should be adviced to embrace Islam in one go.. all of them 2.5 million or so ( are there really so many?) accepting the religion of state altogether. This will atleast save them the insult and risk to their lives and propoerties.
Indian politicians wont allow them to come to India anyways because they dont make a solid vote bank as did the Muslims coming from Bangladesh.
So its better for them to discard the substandard living and accept the religion most pious.
What a dilemma we face this Ramazan..form the Lot of "A" class Hypocrites for the Sake of Rating... Veena Maliks's Astaghfaar, Aamir Liaqat's Ramadan Songs and Now ... Maya Khan converting Hindus to Muslims.... whats next..
Another extremely low of media and this Maya khan.
media should also avoid creating propaganda over everything...
There is nothing wrong to change a religion. It is a basic right to believe in any faith that he or she chooses to. The only issue is the dramatization on the main media. Imagine if Hindus and Christians started to do that in their countries on their mainstream media? I can understand the logic behind showing it on a religious channel but on a mainstream channel, it was an insensitive act. Not only the minorities will have inferiority complex but anti-Muslims will use it to malign Islam and Muslims. Unfortunately, we did not learn anything from our past. During Zia’s time we did many good “acts” without thinking and the result is an immoral and non-spiritual religious society. The name of Islam is more used and abused politically and commercially in Pakistan than any place else. Socially, morally and ethically we are worse than non-Muslim societies and still we call ourselves Muslims and followers of Holy Prophet (SAW). I am sure his advent was not for a society like us.
If the opposite happens?
@asad anwar:
Let's see a person leaving Islam by his free will on live tv too without being killed. Why does free will only work one way?
Pathetic to say the least...
I dont understand from where this TV Channel capyured this boy and brought before the audience?Lol
I don't know why people are saying "what if someone converted from Islam to other religion" First of all Accept, this is a Islamic country. In Islam , going away from Islam is called Irtidad a person become non-Muslim after being Muslim is murtad and will be given death penalty according to the Islamic shariah. (This is not yet implemented in Pakistan) Secular! Don't mix your concept of Freedom of Expression with Islam. Islam has different values and which are true!
Really sad. Such a stupid and irresponsible thing to do on TV.
Outrageous...demeaning the very religion the guy converted into...should be condemned however as we know the country Pakistan is, this would be celebrated instead of condemning..
What would happen if I converted and became a Hindu on live television? I'm assuming someone would try to kill me.
get ready soon Amir Liaqat will also convert someone to Islam.
what if a muslim changed his religion to hinduism? there would have been nothing but catastrophe.
Somebody converted voluntarily without force or compulsion! It is easy to hear but difficult to understand.So many external factors operate and compels the converted person to convert because he/she has no other option and there is nobody around to help him/her because he/she belongs to minority. No religion, in its true form should try to convert a person of another religion. Every religion must respect another religion because the Creator is same and to reach to the expectations of the Creator you need to become a perfect human being of any religion, any sect, any ethnicity or any nationality.
@AD: And how does that prove that "muslims have lost the respect for other religions?". This is mere overgeneralization of an incident. This show, however, was yet another cheap publicity stunt by Maya khan n company as i see no point in showing his free will conversion on television.
what if a muslim decides to convert to hinduism??..would that be acceptable in pakistan??
What next, will they show his circumcision live too??
Just couple of days back I read a news in tribune about a couple running for their life since they reconverted back to Christianity from Islam. They have death threats issued against them and they can't go to their village. Clearly people of Pakistan has double standard when it comes to religion.
Another drama now in Ramadan Show, to higher their rating.
What's wrong in this? I do see some but not the idea of him reverting to Islam and being congratulated on the same as it is a big thing.
What if a Muslim wants to convert to any other religion by his own will?
The supporter of free will in this forum, supports that too? Who in Pakistan can dare to show it live and then not get attacked by defenders of faith?@Asad and others :
This is NOT about "will". This is about marketing such things. Will Maya organized a similar event if a boy leaves ISLAM and convert to HINDU-ism ?
LOL - They are getting a DVD player / Mobile phone to get one Islamic answer correct.
ahaha, tribune quoting dawn. tells you something.
Pakistan has made Islam a joke and a medium of TV entertainment. The clerics who are opposed to TV & consider it a tool of the devil, should issue a fatwa against this debasement of a great religion. Religious conversion is a private affair and not to be done to titillate a TV audience.
The Ghost of Mohmmed Bin Qasim lives on.
Disgusting country
What if muslim decides to convert to hinduism on live television on his/her own will?
stirs anger where? half a dozen angry comments on a log post?
Sensational
A word that is proportional to the programs hosted by MAYA KHAN. Her aim is to just fascinate masses and raise TRP. Her intentions are clear to attract masses with sensitive issues which endorses negativity to certain sects and eventual pull of people who may watch more in hatred. Amazing hanh !!
This is a psyche in our media. Good Luck to such programs and there hosts who are wining the eventual cause i.e. Good TRP's.
Lets not play with Religions!
Tune into Peace Tv and watch this happen a 100 times, and nobody objects to that. Seriously, what's the big deal here? A non-issue deliberately made contraversial, by vested interests.
As obvious as it is that minorities and other religions are not considered equal, I see no reason for this to be a reflection of it. It was a show dedicated to a Muslim topic. Naturally they'd promote the religion and most religions regard a conversion as something to be... Celebrated for lack of a better word. It's also a given that a convert would have a previous non-Muslim religion they considered themselves part of and it would get referenced. The minorities have plenty of reasons to complain but they're being over sensitive about this in particular.
Welcome to Islam brother
The question is why did he "convert". Did he feel, that being Muslim , will make his life easier in Pakistan ? Is it punishing for a minority in Pakistan ? These are rhetorical questions as we all know the answer.
I fail to see why there should cause to celebrate when someone converts to Islam.
i agree with comment of Talat Hussain above...keep religion away from media ratings...
@ Hafeez Pasha: how can u be so sure that this guy came to accept islam willingly on TV?
All the more reasons why India should retain the ban on these trouble-making Pakistani channels.
conversion from 1 religion to another specially on a live TV show is a vague publicity stunt to pull off. such practices should be discouraged but let me remind that if tolerance has to be considered for everyone, such articles should be banned from surfacing.
whatever happened, happened for a reason .... May it be TRPs or real conversion ..... after effects are something tht u can only predict .... y hue and cry if nothing wrong has yet happened
Utterly disgusted. Regards, Rehan
they can't even handle the joy of a hindu being converted to Islam ... so sad :(
Any brave person willing to call the show and renounce Islam? I guess freedom only extends one way.
Maya Khan is back again?? I thought her hubby wanted her to leave this bad place Pakistan and go do her trade in the US? I'm speechless. I have literally no speech.
What a Shame....Proves that Muslim has lost the respect for other religions.Shame to TV and their producers and directors.Fite Muh.
what more could maya khan ask for!!! another controversy...
If a Hindu has decided to convert to Islam on television it is his personal choice and the Hindus should accept that.
I feel this will be seen as a good thing with ARY and Maya Khan getting higher ratings although it should be the opposite. The ARY management certainly have not shown discretion or responsibility.
if sunil converted on his free will it is fine
but i do agree with talat hussain religion should not be used for entertainment
well if he converted on his own free will i see nothing wrong in it....