ASIA/PAKISTAN - Islamic extremists object to an interfaith marriage with violence

Wednesday, 15 October 2014

Karachi (Agenzia Fides) - A young couple from Lahore, the Christian Amin and the Muslim girl Sadia, both college students, were seized in Karachi by a group of Islamic extremists who intend to oppose to their marriage. The two got married according to Muslim rite (the boy converted to Islam, ed) in June last year, but Sadia’s family and groups of radical Muslims violently opposed to the marriage. The extremists broke into the home of Amin’s cousin, in Karachi, where the two had fled and kidnapped them. This was confirmed to Fides by the Christian lawyer Sardar Mushtaq Gill, contacted to resolve the case and provide legal assistance. According to the lawyer, even some police officers are involved in the case and support the illegal and violent action.
Immediately after the wedding, the extremists filed a complaint against the boy. The police also arrested members of Amin’s family, accusing them of forced marriage, although Sadia said to have married according to free will and consent. Threatened, the couple fled from Lahore, taking refuge in Karachi. Now even the couple who welcomed them (Amin's cousins) have been threatened and harassed.
"Christian and Hindu girls are often abducted, kidnapped and converted to Islam, destined to Islamic wedding. But when a Muslim girl wants to marry a Christian, there is an uprising that can reach extreme forms of violence – explains Gill – even if formally the boy converted to Islam". "Religious fundamentalism is a serious threat to religious freedom in Pakistan: extremists do not tolerate interfaith marriages - specifies Gill - even if they are perfectly legal". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/10/2014)


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