This is not the first time that a girl of Minority is abducted and has forcibly been converted to other religion. Forced conversion is the result of insecurity, loss of employment and social isolation which tempts a minority to seek refuge in other religion. When the state itself is hostage in the hands of religious zealot, how can it get its subject free? The Assassination of Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, is the case in point, when he tried to protect Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was allegedly involved in Blasphemy . Salman called the law Black as he considered that the law was production of dictator General Zia who used religion to placate Mullahs to elongate his power during Soviet War .
17 year old Rinkel Kumari of District Ghotki, Sindh was allegedly taken from her home and converted to Islam. Her new name is Faryal and she is married to Naveed shah. Her father seeks refuge in Lahore stating the her daughter was kidnapped by influential person of his locality threatened him of facing severe consequences if protested against it.
17 year old Rinkel Kumari of District Ghotki, Sindh was allegedly taken from her home and converted to Islam. Her new name is Faryal and she is married to Naveed shah. Her father seeks refuge in Lahore stating the her daughter was kidnapped by influential person of his locality threatened him of facing severe consequences if protested against it.
Despite the fact, That Islam vehemently prohibits such act “There is no compulsion in religion. Regardless of the fact the founder of nation guaranteed that all minorities will have equal rights as enjoyed by other citizen yet minorities have been exploited in the name of religion,. Race and monetary time and again .
In his historical address of August 11, 1947 he said : “you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religsion or caste or creed, that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”
Perhaps, Mr Jinnah knew that the minority would not enjoy religious freedom only but he knew not how hard would it be for a minority to live in the hands of bigoted hardliners. Not to talk of religious freedom they even can’t enjoy social, political economic freedom. Newspapers are replete with the news highlighting the relocation of Minorities of Sindh to neighboring country since they are not given protection to carry out their economic activities. Every now and then we hear of kidnapping of wealthy Hindu Tradesmen in Upper Sindh. And very next day he is released after paying heavy ransom.
Why do religious and fanatic pundits try to find heaven only by converting girls of Minority and not male (since most of the incidents reported are related with women only)? Interestingly when girls are being converted to Islam they are married off with “Islamic brothers” immediately. On the contrary when male is converted to Islam (in rare case) Mullahs or “warden of religion” bothers not marrying him off with “Islamic Sister”. Wonders never cease! when asked by Media men if she ever knew about Islam and what thing inspired her to convert ,Rinkel recited few verses from Koran in broken Arabic and other man seated next to her, took her arms and forbade media men questioning further . More interestingly, when girl of minority section embraces Islam and makes off with Muslim Husband the honor of family is not disgraced, but when a girl of similar religion elopes with the her loved one of similar religion is problematic for religious warden and tribal chiefs.
Islam holds woman in high esteem. Why didn’t Mullah find Heaven to rescuing women who were buried alive in Baluchistan by none other than the custodians of Law (parliamentarian cum tribal Chief) and enlivened the centuries-old odious practice of burying women and children alive. The practice was revived which Islam forbade 1400 years ago.
Why don’t they raise voice against Honor killing, Wata Satta ,Vini and Marrying off Girls with Koran. Why don’t they issue religious decree against the perpetrators of such heinous crime and earn heaven ?
The land of sindh is believed to land of Sufis , land of tolerance and love . The people of sindh have secular temperament and Sufis and Dervaish preferred to cut their heads off against the ignorant Mullahs . They preferred ‘peaceful’ to ‘forcible’ to bring people into their circle. They won the hearts of Millions by way of their character and morality not by force or compulsion.
By Ashfaq Siyal
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