ISLAMABAD: A 13-year-old Dalit girl was kidnapped and apparently forced to convert to Islam in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, according to a media report on Saturday.
Poonam was kidnapped from her house in Lyari Town in Karachi on Wednesday, her uncle Bhanwroo told the Daily Times newspaper.
When neighbours informed her family of Poonam's presence at a madrassa in Lyari, they went there.
"She was very scared and under the influence of maulvis. She told us they will not let her go, so she will stay with them as a Muslim," said Bhanwroo.
The family contacted police in Chakiwara to lodge an FIR on the kidnapping but they refused to do so, he said.
Lyari's Superintendent of Police Khadim Hussain Rind told the newspaper that lodging an FIR would not make any difference as it will be cancelled during court proceedings.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Dalit-girl-forced-to-convert-to-Islam-in-Pakistan-Report/articleshow/6536246.cms
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Abid Areacode wrote:
[quote]Even if a Muslim does not practice his religious customs another can't compel him according to the teaching of Islam.Then how one can be forcefully converted?[/quote]
Nobody can be forced to convert to any religion. If somebody is converted by force, the changeover will not be sincere. Thus forcible conversion is meaningless. However, all have the genuine right to preach their religion and there is nothing wrong in forcible conversion.
secondly, religion is not only as matter of faith in God and philosophical thoughts. Religion also creates community with distinct rituals and inheritance/ marriage laws and traditions. This is not desirable to shift from one community to another. One may follow the principles of any religion while remaining in his own community. I belong to Hindu community. While remaining a Hindu, I can definitely appreciate and follow the principles of universal brotherhood and humanity and opposition to unearned income like interest. Similarly, I may appreciate the christian principle - Do to others as you would be done by. There are some good points in all religions and all may follow these without converting to another religious community.
There may be circumstances when conversion is necessary. If a community is too small, it may be necessary to convert to the dominant community.
[quote]Even if a Muslim does not practice his religious customs another can't compel him according to the teaching of Islam.Then how one can be forcefully converted?[/quote]
Nobody can be forced to convert to any religion. If somebody is converted by force, the changeover will not be sincere. Thus forcible conversion is meaningless. However, all have the genuine right to preach their religion and there is nothing wrong in forcible conversion.
secondly, religion is not only as matter of faith in God and philosophical thoughts. Religion also creates community with distinct rituals and inheritance/ marriage laws and traditions. This is not desirable to shift from one community to another. One may follow the principles of any religion while remaining in his own community. I belong to Hindu community. While remaining a Hindu, I can definitely appreciate and follow the principles of universal brotherhood and humanity and opposition to unearned income like interest. Similarly, I may appreciate the christian principle - Do to others as you would be done by. There are some good points in all religions and all may follow these without converting to another religious community.
There may be circumstances when conversion is necessary. If a community is too small, it may be necessary to convert to the dominant community.
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sajeetharan
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Sunday, 12 September 2010 05:10
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