WUNRN
Asian Human Rights Commission
PAKISTAN - FORCED MARRIAGES OF
RELIGIOUS MINORITY WOMEN & GIRLS SHOULD BE ANNULLED & VICTIMS RETURNED
TO FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES
October
25, 2011 - The forced conversion to Islam of women from
religious minority groups through rape and abduction has reached an alarming
stage which challenges interfaith harmony due to the total collapse of the rule
of law and biased attitude of the judicial officers. It appears today that no
one, from the judiciary to the police and even the government has the courage
to stand up to the threats from Muslim fundamentalist groups. The situation is
worse with the police who always side with the Islamic groups and treat
minority groups as lowly life forms.
The dark side of the forced conversion to Islam is not restricted only to the
religious Muslim groups but also involves the criminal elements who are engage
in rape and abduction and then justify their heinous crimes by forcing the
victims to convert to Islam. The Muslim fundamentalists are happy to offer these
criminals shelter and use the excuse that they are providing a great service to
their sacred cause of increasing the population of Muslims.
In a recent case of rape and forced conversion to Islam which occurred in the
month of August, the owner of a kiln factory, Muhammad Amin alias Sony,
forcibly entered the house of one of his employees, a 13-year-old Christian
girl and allegedly raped her at gunpoint. Sony then forced the victim to place
her fingerprints on a set of marriage papers to provide himself with legal
protection if he was to be accused of rape. Anwar Masih, the father of
the victim and a resident of Harbans Pura, Lahore, the capital of Punjab
province, was working in Sony's factory for daily wages with his wife and
daughter. During August, because of heavy rains the kiln was closed and the
victim's parents went out in search of work leaving their daughter alone in the
house.
Immediately following the incident the parents filed a case with the Harbans
Pura Police Station. However, to date, the police have not taken action against
the accused person as he is a powerful man. Also, he sought the help of a
Muslim religious group who has threatened the police that if any case is filed
against the alleged rapist the houses of the Christian community will be
burned. On October 22, after many delayed proceedings, the Session Court of
Lahore ordered the Harbans Pura police to file the case which should have been
done immediately. However, once again the police no action has been taken and
the police are avoiding their sworn responsibilities.
In Sony's factory there are around 70 employees most of whom are Christians.
One lady worker who was widowed two years ago has become pregnant and Sony has
been forcing her to convert to Islam but the Christian community is trying to
prevent it. They have accused Sony of being responsible for the pregnancy and
have reported the matter to the police who once again refuse to file a case
against him. Instead the police have threatened the Christians with dire consequences
should they proceed. This lack of action by the police is due to threats by a
Muslim group that the police themselves will suffer dire consequences should
they side with the Christians.
There have been many cases reported by the Christian rights groups concerning
rape and forced conversion. The following cases which all involve Christian
women are but a few:
Sidra Bibi, (14) in the district of Sheikhupura in Punjab, is the daughter of a
worker in the cotton industry. A Muslim from the village had his eye on her and
began to molest her, and eventually abducted and raped her before threatening
her with death. Physically and psychologically abused, the girl became
pregnant. She managed to escape from her tormentor and is now back, in a state
of exhaustion, with her family. The police have refused to accept her complaint
because of the involvement of a Muslim religious group and now the CLAAS
lawyers are handling the case.
Tina Barkat, (28), was approached by a Muslim friend who, after being friends with
her for several months, asked her to convert to Islam. His family began to read
her verses from the Quran, kidnapped and threatened her, and then gave her in
marriage to a Muslim family member. Her lawyers have a current action to
dissolve the marriage.
The same fate has befallen Samina Ayub, (17), who lives with her family near
Lahore. Kidnapped by a Muslim, she was forcibly converted to Islam, and renamed
Fatima Bibi and was forced to marry in the Muslim rite. Her family reported the
abduction but the police have not prosecuted those responsible. The case
remains unsolved and the family calls for the mobilisation of civil society to
save Samina.
Shazia Bibi, (19) from Gujranwala, in Punjab, worked as a maid in the house of
a Muslim woman, the owner of a grocery store. A Muslim boy from the shop fell
in love with Shazia and in agreement with the owner, held a conversion and
forced her into marriage. The plan was successful but now, thanks to Shazia's
family the case has ended up in court.
Uzma Bibi, (15), from Gulberg, and Saira Bibi, (20), a nurse from Lahore, were
taken by force by Muslim neighbours, converted to Islam and then forced to
marry in the Islamic rite. The families of the girls have reclaimed their
daughters and the cases are currently before the High Court of Lahore,
represented by lawyers provided by CLAAS. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/4/2011)
Two Christian sisters Rubecca Masih and Saima Masih from Jhung, Punjab province
were kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam. Both sisters were on their way
home when by Muhammad Waseem and his five friends abducted them in and sped off
in a vehicle. Muhammad Waseem married Saima Masih the day after her kidnapping.
Jhang is an area where the majority of Muslims are radical. They believe that
if a woman marries a Muslim, she automatically embraces the faith of her
husband as a direct consequence.
Farah Hatim (24), of Rahim Yar Khan in Southern Punjab was abducted on May 8,
2011 by Zeeshan Ilyas and his brothers Imran and Gulfam. After this, she was forced
to convert to Islam and marry Zeeshan. Human rights organizations and the
Catholic Church have condemned the act and demanded action against the
violation of her human rights.
The Justice and Peace Commission are leading the case which they took to the
Session Court under the FIR, Case No. 150/11 US/ 365-B CR.PC. The police have
since been threatening the family because of the religious angle. The Session
Judge, Khawaja Mir, realised the seriousness of the case and had it transferred
to the High Court (the High Court being a higher authority), for hearing due to
the sensitivity of the matter.
Once the appeal was taken to the High Court it was presented by the Justice and
Peace Commission and APMA (All Pakistan Minorities Alliance). Justice
Khalil-ur-Rehman from the High Court Bahawalpur bench instructed the District
Police Officer based in Rahim Yar Khan, and the families involved in the case,
to appear.
The Judge questioned Farah Hatim as to whether she was kidnapped or went with
Zeeshan by her own free will. After a few moments of silence, she replied,
"I went with my own will". After a few more questions, the judge
announced that Farah would be living with her new family. The young woman broke
into tears as the court announced the decision.
It is unclear if the High Court took note of other cases involving women who
have been kidnapped or if the High Court took into account the consideration of
fear.
Farah Hatim was allowed a few moments to meet with her family. Her brother
said, "I am shocked at what Farah said in the court, she was under threat,
now all hopes are gone for her return. Why us? Why did we have to face this?
Only because we are Christians (that we are treated like this)."
According to the Justice and Peace Commission, "Farah became a victim of
the racket that is involved in prostitution. Zeehan IIyas had tried to force
her into prostitution while she was a student at the Sheikh Zaid Medical
College in Rahim Yar Khan, but she refused. Then Zeehan IIyas took his revenge.
The current decision by Farah is possibly because she is pregnant and fears
that her family will be killed if she tries to go back. Therefore, even if she
had taken a brave stance of returning, she wouldn't have been accepted by
society as she was kidnapped and raped. The fear of rejection is also a
possible reason?"
The Justice and Peace Commission commented that ''thousands of girls from
minorities are kidnapped and forced into marriages (against their will)''. The
Justice and Peace Commission also stated that ''we are fighting against the
cancer of kidnapping and forced marriages''.
Therefore, it is more than evident that the legal system and other important
institutions are failing the religious minorities in Pakistan and women can
become victims at any time.
Ironically these realities are a continuous issue for Christians, Hindus and
other religious minorities and generally it is thought that the purpose behind
this action by Islamic fundamentalists is to make Pakistan pure. The
religious minorities reside in fear because legal institutions and other
institutions are either biased or live in fear of the militant religious groups
themselves.
Approximately 90 percent of the Christians and Hindus are the poorest of the
poor and live in slum areas. They are forced to do the jobs of scavengers,
sweepers, garbage collectors and other types of the lowest menial work. Their
access to education is very limited.
This is a very basic issue of the rule of law in that the police take it upon
themselves to act as judge and jury when it comes to a conflict between Islam
and the religious minorities. They decide which FIRs to accept and even then
when they deign to record the complaints they seldom make any investigations
into the cases unless ordered to do so by a court. And even then, they delay
the issue for as long as possible. An FIR is the first step in the registration
of a complaint and every police station has the non-transferable duty to record
them. It is very simply not their choice to decide which FIR to file. No action
can be taken into a complaint until the FIR has been registered and therefore
this alone is ample evidence that the police collude with the perpetrators.
Similarly, the lower judiciary fails in their responsibilities. In the vast
majority of cases the judicial officers, including magistrates and judges
question the traumatised victim in open court in full view of her family
members, the alleged perpetrators and complete strangers. They do not
considered the sensitivity of the feelings of the victim and pay no attention
to the sanctity of the women, regardless of their religion.
All of this is a direct result of the government's appeasement policy towards
the Muslim fundamentalist groups. Whether out of fear of a religious uprising
that might dethrone the existing government or genuine feelings of the
righteousness of what they are doing, is not known. What is known is that if
the government does not take a firm stand against religious extremism they can
hardly expect the judiciary and the police to do so. Article 20 of the
Constitution of Pakistan clear states that protection must be provided to all
citizens regardless of their religion.
The Asian Human Rights Commission strongly urges the government of President
Zardari to stand behind the Constitution and ensure protection to each and
every citizen of Pakistan.
The cases mentioned above, in which FIRs have been filed, must be properly
investigated.
The perpetrators must be brought to trial, prosecuted and made to answer for
the heinous crime of rape, especially against under aged girls.
The police officers who turn a blind eye and refuse to take action against the
perpetrators must face the most severe disciplinary action. Once again,
especially where under aged girls are the victims.
Those marriages which were forcefully or illegally conducted must be annulled
forthwith and the girls and women given the choice of returning to their
families and communities.
In view of the fact that apostasy is forbidden in Islam the government must
take steps to cancel any and all conversions that have been done under duress.
The Christian and Hindu women who have been forcibly converted must be provided
with a safe environment to decide which religion they wish to follow.