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1,000 minority girls forced in marriage every year: report
WASHINGTON: An estimated one thousand Christian and Hindu women are forced to convert and marry Muslim men in Pakistan every year, says a report released on Monday.
According to a report by the Movement for Solidarity and Peace in Pakistan, up to 700 of these women are Christian and 300 are Hindu.
“The true scale of the problem is likely to be much greater, as a number of cases are never reported or do not progress through the law-enforcement and legal systems,” the authors claim.
The MSP also issued an appeal for action along with this investigative report detailing forced marriages and conversions of Christian girls and women in Pakistan.
The Christian community in Pakistan is over two million in size, accounts for 42 per cent of Pakistan's minority population, and is mostly resident in Punjab.
MSP’s investigations find that cases of forced marriages/conversions follow a distinctive pattern: Christian girls — usually between the ages of 12 and 25 — are abducted, converted to Islam, and married to the abductor or third party.
The victim's family usually files a First Information Report for abduction or rape with the local police station. The abductor, on behalf of the victim girl, files a counter FIR, accusing the Christian family of harassing the willfully converted and married girl, and for conspiring to convert the girl back to Christianity.
Upon production in the courts or before the magistrate, the victim girl is asked to testify whether she converted and married of her own free will or if she was abducted.
In most cases, the girl remains in custody of the abductor while judicial proceedings are carried out.
Upon the girl's pronouncement that she willfully converted and consented to the marriage, the case is settled without relief for the family. Once in the custody of the abductor, the victim girl may be subjected to sexual violence, rape, forced prostitution, human trafficking and sale, or other domestic abuse.
These patterns of violence and miscarriages of justice are explored in the report through an examination of 10 illustrative cases.
The report also describes the historical and social context of the problem, and the particular grievances of Pakistan's Christian community in relation to the existing legal, political, and procedural guarantees for the protection of human rights of Pakistan's religious minorities. The report also highlights the patterns of violence through which the law and social attitudes become complicit in providing immunity for perpetrators, and the complex nature of associated crimes that make it difficult to categorise this crime as specific to religious identity. The report concludes with detailed recommendations at various levels — national, provincial, and local — for key stakeholders.
MSP is mobilising an inclusive coalition to raise awareness on this issue. MSP will host outreach events in the coming weeks in Pakistan (in collaboration with the National Commission of Justice and Peace in Pakistan) and around the world.
Comments (83) Closed
Many Kudos to Dawn for pursuing this issue doggedly ! Pakistan is a very intolerant society yet it finds time to point fingers at secular India.
This is quality journalism.
And muslims expect extraordinary comfort and support in countries they are in minority.
Islamic law is very clear on this. Forced marriage is no marriage. In all my life I have never seen any one forcefully marry any person of another faith which makes no sense for millions of reasons. Law enforcement must deal with this ruthlessly!
sad, but one should not expect better future for a religious minority group in Pakistan ever!!
Pakistan ka Matlab kyan ??????????
Shame...showing might on helpless and week shows character of the person
As we have seen, once the numbers of other Religions fall, the minority sects will then be targeted.
Once the Hindus and Sikhs were rid of in Partition, the hate then turned towards Ahmadis.
Once, that got old, now is the turn of the Shias, who number 20%.
Basically hate assumes different forms, its a vicious cycle. Since, Pakistan was formed on the basis of such hate, things had to turn out like this.
This really broke my heart, how can live with knowing this goes on in your country? What if the same thing was being done to Muslim women? Where is the justice now?
This kind of issue will not make it to any page of Pakistani newspaper. Because Muslim Pakistani can do no wrong! Hat off to you sir for publishing an article highlighting the plight of minorities in our beloved Pakistan.
Simply go to any converted female and ask her that you were forced to be convert with muslim boy,she will say that i embraced Islam by her own choice.Now Anwar Iqbal Shb have you got interview by any converted woman or just fulfill writing formality in a month? Now Islamic values and faith are very soft target by so called intellectuals. IT'S NOT FAIR.
We should probably change our flag by eliminating white color that represents minorities because Pakistan now no longer seems to have space for minorities!
@Shah: Shah sahab! you talk of law in a lawless land! even while we are chatting hundreds of Rinkle Kumaris are being forced married. Converting people is sole motto take book a free place in heaven
@Anoop: The creation of Pakistan is based on the concept of "we cannot live with others".
Discovering more and more 'others' and then hating them, is embedded in our genetic design.
By the way, Thank you Dawn for having the courage to publish this! Thank you for actually standing up for the weak in your country. You have done your job, and i hope Pakistani Law Makers do theirs now and actually do something about these poor minorities.
Any statistics on how many Pakistani Muslim women (and men with full facial hair) converted to Christianity, Hindu or Sikh, willingly and/or forced?
@Shah: You Pakistanis have mastered the art of "turning a blind eye". And you must not have seen a suicide bomber in your life too - but ....
Women/girls shelter should be created. As soon as such a case is registered the law should required to move the girl to the shelter where she can get counselling and visitation rights to whom ever she wishes to meet. Penalty for such a crime should be a deterrent. This is done for money, minorities are targeted, usually they do not have the resources to fight in courts. Kidnapping for trafficking and prostitution is not limited to minorities. However, abduction and conversion is terrible and should have severe punishment.
No such thing can happen in such a large number this report is what we call propaganda
@ssd: thats why pakistan is a sinking ship
I just read seven replies, saw nothing but hate towards Pakistan. I never will go and claimed that Pakistan is land of free and justice but you ppl make it look this way rather we work towards to help these girls we want to throw bd and foul things at Pakistan as whole. We should keep in mind samde thing happen tp muslim girls as well not in thousands a lot higher.So clap ur filthy mouth and lets join forces so we get rid of these elemnet from socity
This is the real face of Pakistan.
Isn't converting going against God's will? If God wanted them to be muslims, He would have made sure during childbirth..
This is how the minority numbers dwindle in countries like pakistan, or even bangladesh. In the one hand many leave the country to save their life, dignity and live normally but these are mainly urban, educated people. Others, mainly those from economically weaker sections are much more vulnerable. They cant easily leave the country and settle somewhere else. And are constantly exploited and treated likw 2nd class citizen, if even so. Their women are abducted and converted and as a result slowly but steadily diminishing these communities population. Its a huge handicap to be a minority in pakistan as it is and it only becomes more so for the economically weaker. And women not only get forcefully converted but are physically abused and used. It's a huge human rights violation going on in muslim countries like pakistan and the world is not even looking at it. Kudos to Dawn for publishing this.
Let there be no compulsion in religion...........:Sura 2, verse 256. Explanation: Compulsion is incompatible with religion:because religion depends on faith and will, and these would be meaningless if induced by force.
Bravo bravo, alhamdulillah, such a blessed way to propagate the faith. Mashallah.
@ Abdul Manan - I bet your views will change if muslim girls are forced to embrace other religions.
@mukesh:This is similat to evangelicals who do the same things in India and other third world countries especially to the innocent tribal population. Convert them with monetary benefits, bags of food and change the names and force them to eat beef and pork and break down a generation. hope the same group investigates them too. One is down by the sword and the other is done by hanging carrots in front of people. Normally the uneducated and poor are the ones forced into conversions
Pakistan and islam are accumulating some very good karma. Someday this will return back in kind. I wish pakistan well but if you silently ignore the plight of the weakest and then you deserve punishment.
@Atiq: I think Dawn IS a Pakistani newspaper. Or it has switched it's nationality?
Over the time I see Muslims becoming more intolerant and impatient towards others. When they are in majority there is a problem and when they are minority then also there is a problem. I'm not saying all are like that but rest of the Muslims have to bear the brunt if it. And out of all other Muslim majority countries Pakistan has the most unpleasant picture in rest of the world. That's why many Pakistanis are hesitant to tell, proudly, that they are from Pakistan. Isn't it sad for the nation and it's people.
Thank you Dawn for bringing yet another social issue, criminal behaviour, and anti-Islamic practice against the 'minorities' to the attention of the public in Pakistan and abroad.
The Supreme Court should take 'suo moto' action against the perpetrators and the enforcement agencies; this is nothing short of a highly-deplorable activity and anti-Islamic practice which must be condemned in no uncertain terms.
Mr Jinnah was a Champion of Democracy & Minorities and the white strip in the Pakistan flag was introduced to represent our 'Minorities', is now another social malaise! Are we surprised and amazed at how low this nation of ours has stooped (and however small, the proportion of the perpetrators they may be)?
P.S. The writer is a British-Pakistani Muslim and an Intl. Development management consultant.
The most severe punishment should be given to those who force anyone to change their religion. They are commiting multiple crimes at a time. Kidnapping, Forcing religion, Rape and what not. There is no future for human in pakistan. There is no humanity left. Sad but true.
These girls are married off, not for the sake of turning them into Muslims. Rather they are used as second rate family members used to clean and cook around their houses. I have seen similar circumstances where girls (Muslim or not) are subjugated to torture by the women of their houses .
Shame on those families who abuse the poor, the orphans,and the weak for their own amusements and their own frustrations.
Thank you Dawn news for showing this. Pakistan needs to aggressively tackle issues like these. No one from a minority religion in Pakistan should feel threatened to practise their faith.
@aaa: Wake up. Face the reality of UNPURE NAPAKISTAN.
Further to my earlier comment, here, let this be a reminder to our parliament, senate, law enforcement agencies, the legal and the judicial system, and the public on the 'Protection of Minorities' by quoting Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Governor-General designate of Pakistan, at the Press Conference held at New Delhi, July 14, 1947, where he assured the minorities in the Pakistan Dominion that they would have protection with regard to their religion, faith, life, property and culture.
In reply to one of several questions*:
"Could you as Governor-General make a brief statement on the minorities problem?
Ans. At present I am only Governor-General designate. We will assume for a moment that on August 15, I shall be really the Governor-General of Pakistan. On that assumption, let me tell you that I shall not depart from what I said repeatedly with regard to the minorities. Every time I spoke about the minorities I meant what I said and what I said I meant.
Minorities to whichever community they may belong will be safeguarded. Their religion or faith or belief will be secure. There will be no interference of any kind with their freedom of worship. They will have their protection with regard to their religion, faith, their life, their culture. They will be, in all respects, the citizens of Pakistan without any distinction of caste or creed.
They will have their rights and privileges and no doubt, along with it goes the obligation of citizenship. Therefore, the minorities have their responsibilities also and they will play their part in the affairs of this State. As long as the minorities are loyal to the State and owe true allegiance and as long as I have any power, they need have no apprehension of any kind".
P.S. The writer is a British-Pakistani Muslim, fmr. alumni of St. Anthony's School (primary, Lahore), Jennings Private School (primary, Karachi), and B.V.S. Parsi High School (Karachi), Adamjee Science College (Karachi), BA (Econ., University of Karachi), ACA (ICAEW), Associate Management Consultant (IoC, UK), and an Intl. Development consultant.
Pakistan wants to the leader of Muslim Ummah -- from Atlantic to Pacific !
@M K Sufi:http://wikiislam.net/wiki/LetTherebenoCompulsioninReligion
@shamsher singh dhilliion: Do you really think Pakistani Law makers will do something about this matter? I don't think so. It hurts to read so many innocent minority girls fall prey to such animals. They should have migrated India at the time of partition but as luck would have it, they stayed back trusting Pakistan. I wish them luck and peace.
Living here in Europe, one thing I am 200 % sure that no one will force me to do any thing that I don
This is terrible, and Amway has financially raped millions of people: www.stoptheamwaytoolscam.wordpress.com
All I can say is that it is extremely hard to comprehend that these types of atrocities are still carried on in Pakistan. When I read these stories, I ask myself if this is all made up - that it is not real. In this time and age, when women are demanding equal rights in every part of the world, including in urban cities of Pakistan, how could this behavior be acceptable in other parts of the country. I just don't understand why this has gone unnoticed or unaddressed for so many years?
@M K Sufi: There is point quoting Holy Book. No one seems to follow it in Pakistan. Pakistan represents the true face of Islam, intolerant and violent. Middle East is also an example. Pakistan is trying to become one.
@kumar: "Pakistan represents the true face of Islam, intolerant and violent."
Neither Pakistan nor Middle East represent true face of Islam. True Islam is practiced only at individual/ personal levels. True Islam is based on the foundation that Allah is the most beneficent, the most merciful, and he cares for everything that exists. True Islam exists only where a person tests all his actions to determine that these are consistent with the truth of Allah being the most beneficent, the most merciful. Such a person can never willfully harm anyone or anything.
Collectively, no group follows Islam. They make interpretations based on their abilities to understand, and then follow those interpretations. Those interpretation at many times are intolerant and violent. Islam is not.
@Anoop: India was formed for the same reasons that Pakistan was formed.
There is enough hate in India. The Maoist insurgency has spread to most of south east India. The Kashmir insurgency has always been there. The Hindu, Muslim and Christian riots that happen every now then. UP riots were the most recent. The caste wars in India and the Sikh separatists in Punjab.
What has changed for India is that the West has made India their IT shop. Due to the influx of foreign money a lot of India's problems have been masked. That money is like a bandage that fixes problems on the surface for India and gives it a developing country status. The West likes Hindus because they copy them in everything but for obvious reasons hates Muslims. Immorality is increasing and the culture in India is changing and people are emulating the West minus m
Pakistan is struggling because it has no money and all the problems are magnified by the media and there is no bandage to fix those problems.
If money and gold define your culture and success then we wish you all the gold and money in world. as history has told us it will eventually lead to your decline and maybe in your lifetime too.
@kumar: I cannot agree with your immature and naive comments. You cannot use the same brush to tar the whole nation or demonise one the three Abrahamic (Monotheistic) Faiths or any Other Faith as intolerant and violent because of criminal-minded individuals or the failings of the law enforcement institutions or even lack of proper priorities of law-making institutions!
How would you like it, if Pakistanis or Muslims in the ME (as per your comments) demonise the Hindu Faith or the Nation of India for the increase in rape and violence against women (recent cases and protests are well-known for all of us to see across the globe) and other social malaise - corruption, murders, gender inequality, etc. etc in India?
Your comments lacks a rational and logical analysis based on reliable direct or indirect or corroborative evidence and smacks of acute bias and prejudice against Muslims and the Faith of Islam (of 1.5 bn people and the fastest growing religion in the West) because of the minority groups i.e. Taliban (Afghan and Pakistani), Other insurgents, and Al-Qaeda! But, these right-wing fundamentalists/extremists are not representative of all Muslim communities and societies or even Muslim countries!
P.S. A British-Pakistani Muslim and an Intl. Development management consultant (UK)
What a non-sensical piece of journalism. How else can one judge whether the conversion and marriage was bonafide, except for asking the person, in a free and fair environment. Why don't these defenders of human rights see a woman's right to choose a husband take priority over what her family wish her to do.
Stop misguiding peoples by publishing these kind of FAKE reports. Actually there is no check and balance on media these day. We can expect anything from the media who is being sponsored by WEST. Come up with any single video or interview of an individual who has been forced to do so... !
@Rakesh: it's mean your reservation on it that "why other religion's Girl embrace Islam,Why?" I have not any answer to this just say that Islam give real dignity to the Women,so thats why they change their Religion for Right Path.
Surprisingly this news only shows up in dawn no other paper knows about it During 43 years of my life I have never seen such incident. Dawn should come up with documentary proof rather then just rhetoric to cater its indian readers.
@Shah: Please we are all human beings and need to look other human as peers. There is no such thing as Islamic law. Law should be above religion. All men and women are equal. Blood is red regardless of what your religion is.
Where is the evidence for these so called events.
@SMQ Zaman: SO these men should read these points and obey them. If not we put these cluases in one of the news paper to educate them. Good point.
@Shah: there is ample evidence that this happens. Forced marriages is not new to Muslims they have been doing this for hundreds of years since Islam began and before. Get rid of the mentality that everyone is anti-Muslim. Even in a country such as Australia Muslims are filled by this paranoia that Australian people and government are against them and therefore they insist on closing streets to pray etc. Change people and enter the twenty first century.
One thing the writer skip is that once produce before court It ask from the girl whether she is forced or her own will.
@Rashid Sultan: None cause typically it does not happen in other countries..
very sad!!! I have tears in my eyes reading this article and think about the parents and family of the girls and obviously the girls themselves. I have a baby girl myself and really feel very sad that this happens in Pakistan
@SMQ Zaman: @saman- WAKE UP FROM YOUR SLEEP AND YOU WILL GET ALL THE ANSWERS. I am surprised that you live in UK and are a consultant but so ignorant about what actually is the reality.
@Abdul Manan: So if a muslim girl converts to Christanity or Hinduism by her "own choice" and then marry a boy from that faith, would that be acceptable???
As some people here are saying those girls embraced islam by their "own choice", if a muslim girl converts to Christianity or Hinduism by her "own choice", would that be acceptable???
As predicted by Molana Abdul Kalam Azad during partition this country would break itself and destroy itself in near future.
SHAME ON HUMANITY
Very well written, hats off to dawn for highlighting this ongoing menace in our society and for pushing others to take action against this Barbaric and Savage situation. However after reading the comments below, I am shocked at the arguments posted below. "Gents, your support and empathy is highly appreciated but I urge you to please read the article once more and maybe then you will realize it is not about India and Pakistan or which religious sect is more righteous. It simply gives you an insight on the cruel, malicious and inhumane treatment against other human beings".
Thank you.
Note the date May 21st, 2014. This is the date that hurricane will hit this sub-continent starting with...
@Malik: Why are Pakistanis always living in denial
''An estimated one thousand Christian and Hindu women are forced to convert and marry Muslim men in Pakistan every year, says a report released on Monday.'' What a peaceful religion and its equally peaceful followers.
@Shah: Please stop blabbering about what is good and what not. Pakistanis live in the stone age.
@Jassi:
They have also mastered the art of fraud, lying and every form of crookedness in the dictionary.
@Rakesh:
There will be bloodshed everywhere. In Europe, Pakistani men are arrested in dozen when they rape white girls, some as old as fifteen . They take it as a religious duty to defile non-muslim women.
I wonder aint there any muslim girls to marry in Pakistan or are the minority girls more prettier?
SHAME ON OUR SOCIETY. LETTING THE ABDUCTED GIRL STAY WITH THE KIDNAPPER DURING HEARINGS???!!! WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE?! THESE RAPISTS DESERVE JAIL!!!
Why is every one going after religion for these kinds of heinous acts? Why cant people understand that there is only one and one god alone.Solomon becomes Suleiman, David becomes Dawood and to those people who dont understand core of Hinduism ( Ofcourse its so complex and accomodative) , I pity them . Hindu religion also says that there is one and only one god who is in every one , the same same same in islam!
The acts are committed by people who disrespect every existing tenet in any religion. But sadly , Pakistan is crumbling under its own weight ever since it declared its intolerance by encouraging entities who see Islam the way they want to, to create hatred and enmity among people! Sigh! People wake up and dont live in a denial !!! ( Its soooo wonderful to have different people around ! believe me Secularism and tolerance are so beatiful! )
It is great to pick the story on issues of minorities and marginalized, but this photo does not suit to the cruelty of the subject. Dawn should be careful enough in selecting the photos.
@Ahmad Nasser: The woman remains in the custody of the abductor while judicial proceedings are carried out. If those abductors are threatening her for killing of her brother or kidnapping of her sister or damaging her family more, how can she practice her free will? And how is this environment fair?
@Abdul Manan: hahaha i myself met nd hav seen girls dat were 1stly rapped nd had no choice except conversion nd even if they denied ,, a torture of murdering her family compelled dem to convert ...where r u man accept da truth
@aysha: There will be death penalty for being "Murted"
@Rashid Sultan: Religion is a belief system. No-one can be forced to change their beliefs, indeed no-one even knows what goes on inside the head of another. Forced conversions relate to overt actions, whereby people might pretend to believe otherwise, as a survival mechanism.
@Abdul Manan: Chances are her husband is an old man, not a boy. It is likely that Pakistani family values mean that the girl is now shamed and her parents might not be willing to have her back. If she has no education (which is likely, as an educated girl would probably not succumb), where else is she to go, in a society that considers her "damaged goods".
@Kay: Childbirth knows no religion. This is imparted as the child grows up.
@AHA:
You can add few more things in your genetic history, intolerance and violence.
@Banda:
La Ilaha Illallah.
well if the girl is saying she converted by choice who can decide otherwise. she can easily say NO it was forced upon me. i am not saying it NEVER happens. If it happens we should condemn it but to state that every case is this way is NOT fair. i know 1 muslim girl who converted to christianity to marry a guy. NOW shall i be calling it that it was forced conversion. Of course not. so we have to see both sides of the coin. Yes pakistan, as well as india, are very intoleratn societies but we should be careful how we portray the entire society is all i am saying.
well..I guess they deserve it as thier forfathers decided to trust Jinnah rather than make the trip
@Tamilselvan: Dude, the similarity ends at conversion.
No missionary is forcibly converting the girls into Christains and marrying them off to Christains.
In Pakistan, the above is happening.
So while Hindu girls are converting in both the cases they are different.