Crisis in Rural Sindh: Kidnapped Hindu/Christian Girls Forced into Marriage

 

Molvi forced conversions underage hindu girl s

سندھ کے دیہی علاقوں میں ہندو اور مسیحی کم عمر لڑکیوں کے اغواء، جبری مذہب تبدیلی اور طویل عمر والے مردوں سے شادی کے واقعات مسلسل بڑھ رہے ہیں۔ اندازوں کے مطابق سالانہ تقریباً 1,000 کیسز پیش آتے ہیں، جبکہ زمینی حکام کے مطابق ماہانہ 20–25 لڑکیاں اغواء ہوتی ہیں، خاص طور پر اضلاع عمرکوٹ، تھرپارکر اور گھوٹکی میں ۔ اغواء کے بعد انہیں بھورچُندى شریف جیسے درگاہوں پر لے جایا جاتا ہے جہاں ان پر دباؤ ڈال کر اسلام قبول کروایا جاتا ہے اور نکاح نامہ جعلی عمر کے ساتھ تیار کروایا جاتا ہے ۔ سندھ میں چائلڈ میریج ریسٹرینٹ ایکٹ اور 2016 میں جبری مذہب تبدیلی کے خلاف بل موجود ہے، لیکن مذہبی و سیاسی دباؤ کی وجہ سے عمل درآمد کمزور ہے ۔ متاثرہ بچیاں گہری ذہنی تکلیف، خاندان سے جدا ہونا اور تعلیم سے محروم ہونا جیسے صدمات سے دوچار ہیں، اور کمزور خاندان انتقام کے خوف سے خاموش رہتے ہیں ۔ یہ ایک سنگین بچوں کے حقوق اور مذہبی آزادی کی خلاف ورزی ہے، جس کے لیے قانونی اصلاحات اور مؤثر تحفظ کی اشد ضرورت ہے۔

 In parts of rural Sindh province, a distressing pattern persists—underage Hindu and Christian girls are being kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam, and married to much older men. These incidents represent a grave violation of children’s rights, religious freedom, and human dignity.

📊 Scope & Scale of the Crisis

Up to 1,000 non-Muslim girls per year, mostly Hindu or Christian, are forcibly converted and married off in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh 

Activists report approximately 20 such cases monthly in districts like Umerkot and Tharparkar , mostly involving minors 

Local reports estimate 150+ forced conversions near Bharchundi Sharif shrine between 2014 and 2017 

👧 Victim Profiles & Modus Operandi

Common Tactics:

Kidnapping or luring poor, underage girls—sometimes via drugging or deceit.

Forcing conversion at shrines or religious centers and issuing a certificate.

Registering underage marriages using falsified ages and coerced “consent.”

Suppressing family objections through intimidation or political influence 

These events often involve local clerics, landlords or dargee custodians, and are facilitated by weak law enforcement and legal loopholes.

💔 Case Studies 

1. Ravita Meghwar (16) – Tharparkar, June 2017

Abducted on June 6, forcibly converted and married the same day.

Court records state her age as around 18, but her school certificate showed she was born in July 2001—making her just 16 

Family filed an FIR; the Sindh High Court ordered her protection and appear in court. She later stated she married willingly, though many human rights advocates question the voluntariness 2. Kareena Kumari (16) – Shaheed Benazirabad, July 2022

Abducted and forced into a coerced marriage.

Court later barred police from presenting her, but the family secured legal representation; she publicly stated she "wanted to live with her parents."

“Anyone would convert their religion if he/she is at gun point.” 

3. Other Incidents on Record:

Monika Luhano (11) – Sindh, reportedly kidnapped at a shrine .

Neha (circa 14) – Converted under duress by relatives

 

Reshaman (minor) – From Jacobabad, forcibly converted and married 

⚖️ Legal & Institutional Failures

Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act (2013) prohibits marriage under 18, but enforcement is weak .

A bill to outlaw forced conversions (2016) was passed, but the governor neither signed nor implemented it under pressure from Islamist groups 
Local authorities often ignore or downplay complaints, and courts can accept coerced statements as voluntary. Powerful actors—landlords, clerics—use political clout for protection .

🌍 Human & Societal Impact

Trauma & Family Separation: Victims lose access to their families, education, and faith roots .

Community Fear: Families of missing girls often stay silent to avoid retaliation 
Systemic Silence: Sparse national media coverage; NGOs and local outlets highlight these issues. Awareness remains limited .

✅ What Must Change

1. Pass & Enforce Federal Law Protecting Minors’ Religious Freedom

Including penalties for those who facilitate coerced conversions or marriages.

2. Strengthen Child Protection Mechanisms

Victims under 18 should be immediately placed in protective custody or safe shelters.

3. Judicial Transparency & Safeguards

Court statements should be collected in secure, neutral settings free from coercion.

4. Empower Law Enforcement

Train police to investigate these cases, file FIRs promptly, and detain suspects.

5. Launch Awareness Campaigns & Interfaith Dialogue

Educate rural communities about minority rights, legal protections, and interfaith respect.

6. Support NGOs & Legal Aid for Victims

Provide free legal assistance, counseling, and shelter for affected families and girls.

🧭 A Shared Moral Responsibility

This is not a religious dispute, but a grave injustice against children and minorities. It demands attention from provincial and federal governments, courts, civil society, and religious leaders alike.

"Every child deserves the right to live with dignity, choose their faith freely, and grow without fear—regardless of their religion."