The mystery surrounding the case of the 12-year-old Hindu girl in Daharki once again underscores the issue of forced conversions in Pakistan, particularly for Hindus living in Sindh. The world has a long history of religious communities impinging upon each other’s free will, but most civilised countries today have managed to get past such attitudes. However, minority communities in Pakistan still continue to grapple with this serious problem. Whether the 12-year-old girl converted of her own will or was coerced into changing her religion is for the courts to decide; however, it is extremely difficult to believe that a person of such a young age made such an important life decision without any coercion whatsoever. Not only that, it is curious that the official who allegedly helped her convert deemed her adult enough to have eloped with a Muslim boy. As forced conversions have been common in Pakistan for a long time now, the details of the case need to be explored and any wrongdoing committed must be corrected.
The authorities whose job it is to protect people and uphold the tenets of justice should address the topic of forced conversions immediately. Likewise, there is clearly a need for the citizens of this country to be more tolerant of different communities, rather than allowing religion to divide a nation that needs to stand united now more than ever against the evils of our time. To date, thousands of Hindus and members of other religious communities have emigrated from Pakistan, their motherland, only because some of their fellow citizens made life here a living hell. Many have been robbed of their basic human rights with no one to turn to for justice. It is a scary thought that there are people in this country who did not mourn the recent murder of the Christian couple in Kot Radha Kishan. Sadly, when some of our fellow Pakistanis belonging to minority communities migrate to India, they are not welcomed there, either. This leaves them with a sense of alienation from the region altogether and the blame lies solely on those in Pakistan who played a part in driving them out in the first place.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (10)
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@Lalit: Why not? India can do so to give asylum to religious minorities who are persecuted.
A 12 year old girl abducted by 40 year man,converted by a Pir invoking Islam,and in a state where it is unlawful to marry girls below 18,and man now is running from the law.What is he afraid of?The truth is glaringly obvious.But who is listening?
There is no sincerity behind this editorial. Lots of people oin Pakistan have been writing lately in the Pakistani newspapers about change of attitude of people and government. But nothing happens. Even as we write this, for all we know perhaps somewhere another non-Muslim is being burnt alive. Or will be - very soon. Nobody wants to change the present dispensation. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, 9 Nov 2014, 0555 IST
@Komal S, well said.
Isn't it strange that it is always the unmarried non muslim girls in Pakistan suddenly fall in love with Islam, get married to a muslim boy and run away. If there are people who still think that this happening out of their own will need to have their head checked. In india it is always the men who want to have multiple wives officially suddenly finds love with Islam.
India as a Secular polity can not have two set of rules, one for Hindus and the other for non-Hindus. And at the same time if you allow ex-Indians and present day Pakistanis and Bangladeshis to come back to India, both these countries will be depopulated in seconds.
Over 67 years and in multiple ways Pakistan has reduced its religious minorities to a sorry level of 3%. How will waking up after all objectives have been achieved and horses having bolted, help Pakistan ? Sure the guilt can be hanging like a shadow, now there is no escape from the day of judgement. Allah will ensure justice, visible or invisible not being relevant. Pakistan has been on the wrong side of Allah for decades, now no option but to correct ones behavior if any hope of mercy exists.
@wb welcoming back Hindus and Sikhs as a matter of policy can't be done as India is a secular country.
@wb: Supporting them is against Liaquat Nehru pact. Due you think Pakistani will help the Indian Muslims if they migrate to Pakistan. Contrary to your belief, most of the Muslims who supported and created Pakistan are in India.
"Sadly, when some of our fellow Pakistanis belonging to minority communities migrate to India, they are not welcomed there, either."
This is true.
We comment here welcoming Hindus, Sikhs back into India.
But Indian government has done very little to accommodate these people.
This issue should be fixed once for all and Sikhs and Hindus persecuted in India should be welcome.
However I'm not for welcoming Muslims, Ahmadis and Christians back to India, because not only did they chose to live in Pakistan, they even supported the creation of Pakistan.