Concerns Rise Over Alleged Abduction and Forced Conversion of Hindu Girl in Pakistan
Bangkok, September 3: The case of a 21-year-old Hindu girl named Rita, who was allegedly abducted, forced to convert to Islam, and married, has reignited concerns regarding the persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan.
The Punjab police recovered Rita after she had been reported missing from her home in the Khipro Tehsil of Sanghar district in Sindh province. According to media reports, Rita disappeared on August 24, and her brother, Ravishankar, alleged that unknown individuals took her from their residence.
The family informed the police that CCTV footage showed Rita leaving the house with several people. It is alleged that she was later taken to Gujranwala in Punjab province. The complaint also claims that Rita was pressured to convert to Islam and marry a man named Nazir Hussain, who is reportedly already married.
This incident has sparked renewed debate about the safety and rights of Hindu and other religious minority communities in Pakistan, particularly concerning issues of abduction, coercion, forced conversion, and child marriage.
After being recovered by the Punjab police, Rita was presented before a judicial magistrate on Monday. The investigating officer informed the court that Rita did not wish to return to her parents and requested to be sent to a government women’s shelter, Dar-ul-Aman. However, Rita’s lawyers, Asad Jamal and Kheta Ram, opposed this, stating that she wanted to return home with her brother, who was present in court during the hearing.
The magistrate then instructed Rita to take an oath and record her statement. Reports indicate that Rita expressed her desire to return to her parents willingly. In a significant ruling, the magistrate allowed Rita to reunite with her family, directing that she be safely returned to her home in Sanghar district, Sindh.
This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the safety of religious minorities in Pakistan. Human rights organizations have consistently raised alarms over the alleged abduction, coercion, forced conversion, and marriage of girls and women from minority communities.
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