ASIA/PAKISTAN: Forced conversions: A bill is urgently required to protect religious freedom
Karachi (Agenzia Fides). Forced conversions of Islam in Pakistan threaten religious freedom, religious pluralism, and religious liberty. Therefore, it is urgent to implement legal and administrative measures to address crimes such as forced conversions, child marital, and abuses of women in Pakistan. These were the requests made at the recent meeting called “Break the Bias” in Karachi. It was organized by the NGO Voice for Justice (VFJ) and committed to the protection, equality, and freedom of religion.
Chairman of Sindh’s Commission on the Status of Women Nuzhat Shirin said that it was encouraging that the Islamabad High Court declared illegal marriage for children below 18. The high rate of early marriages occurring in Pakistan is due to poverty, social norms and traditions, as well as religious misperceptions.
A ruling by the Federal Court of the Sharia stating that a minimum legal age for marriage is not an affront to Islam was also issued. This ruling opens the door to the abolishment of marriages between minors and adults under 18 in Pakistan.
The nation’s civil society calls for the government to revise the draft law against forced conversions, and to submit it to the National Legislative Assembly. Ghazala Shahique, a Christian woman known for her dedication to women’s rights, said: “The issue regarding forced conversions into Islam must be presented not as a religious issue but as a human right issue.”
Naghma, also a women’s rights activist notes that “the lack of enforcement of existing laws remains a serious problem.” It is regrettable, however, that perpetrators of such acts often enjoy impunity for their crimes. Seemi Emmanuel says that the inability of the state to enforce and implement laws on kidnappings and early marriages and forced marital relationships is evident, particularly when victims are from religious minority communities. Humayun waqas, intellectual advocate for human rights, told Fides that citizens have the right to religious freedom in Article 20, the Constitution of Pakistan. However, it is illegal to force citizens to alter their faith using threats, coercion or manipulation. Joseph Jansen (President of VFJ), says that “the lack of an adequate institutional response encourages forced conversions, and forced marriages, particularly to the detriment women of religious minority religions.” VFJ requests the government to take steps to protect, promote and respect minorities’ rights; to present a bill at federal and provincial assemblies to set the minimum age of marriage at 18; and to create a committee to review the draft law introducing protections against forced religious converts. The NGO also notes that it is important to create a campaign to educate the public to support the bill against forced converts. It is also necessary to work to ensure that the courts’ judgments on forced conversion and forced marriage are impartial, timely, and independent. This will ensure that the guilty are brought to justice. These measures are part of the framework for the defense and promotion women’s rights in Pakistan, according to VFJ. (AG-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 24/3/2022)
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Source: fides.org
