Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - In Pakistan a wave of forced conversion to Islam is causing concern and protest among Christians and other religious minorities. Recently a forum of religious leaders issued a statement “Forced conversion of women and minority rights in Pakistan” protesting about this spreading practice which involves mainly women and children. One of those who signed the statement, Bishop Joseph Cutts, the Catholic Bishop of Faisalabad, said: “Sad to say religious minorities, Christians and Hindus especially, are denied equal rights, a principle stated in the Constitution of our country”.
The areas most affected by forced conversions are the provinces of Punjab, North West Frontier and Sind, predominantly areas of fundamentalist Islam which sees other religions as foreign to Pakistan. Many poor Christians and Hindus and Sikhs are convinced to convert by promises of land or work by rich land owners mainly Muslims who also abduct young girls forcing them to become Muslims and wives.
According to human rights activists and NGOs in Pakistan this widespread and concerning phenomenon of forced conversions to Islam continues in complete impunity. Civil and religious leaders have decided to draft a report to present to the competent authorities and to launch an campaign of international pressure.
In Pakistan the Catholic Church is in front line also with the Bishops’ Commission for Justice and Peace and with Caritas Pakistan to promote respect for human rights particularly of religious minorities. The agenda includes a call to abolish the “blasphemy law”, considered unjust, evil and discriminatory. Pakistan has a population of 156 million, 96% Muslim, 1.5% Hindu and 2.5% Christian including 1.2 million Catholics. (Agenzia Fides 5/6/2006 righe 32 parole 328)
