Petition against forced conversion dismissed
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KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday allowed a young girl who recently converted from Hinduism to Islam to live with her husband.
A two-judge bench headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah gave the direction while dismissing the petition of Kundandas Meghwar against the alleged forced conversion of her daughter, Anjali Kumari Meghwar, who was named Salma after the conversion.
The petitioner, represented by Advocate Syed Ali Ahmed Tariq, asked the court to declare that Anjali was underage and no statement under Section 164 of the criminal procedure code could be recorded at this stage or if her statement was necessary then a judicial magistrate in Karachi might be authorised to record her statement.
Take a look: Forced conversions
The petitioner also asked the court to order the provincial authorities to constitute a medical board comprising qualified gynaecologists and surgeons to conduct her medical examination to ascertain her age.
The counsel submitted that the petitioner’s 12-year-old daughter had been abducted and forced to convert to Islam.
Salma told the judges that she embraced Islam and married Riaz Sial of her own volition.
After her statement, the bench dismissed her father’s plea and allowed her to go with her husband.
Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2015
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Comments (43) Closed
Jan 15, 2015 07:14am
How is it that a girl of 12 can marry without parental permission?
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Jan 15, 2015 07:18am
12 year old...rest my case
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Jan 15, 2015 07:34am
12 year old is considered a child, isn't it? So, shouldn't this be a case of abduction and rape?
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Jan 15, 2015 07:39am
How could a judge ask a minor girl to stay with her illegal(fake) husband? Court should anul the marriage and send with her parents. Incompetent justice system? Does law allow child marriages?
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Jan 15, 2015 07:45am
Pathetic justice,
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Jan 15, 2015 07:46am
12 year old was legally married??? isn't it underage. second the underage child can't decide anything, without legal guardians consent. Is this real, how the legal system works???
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Jan 15, 2015 07:56am
Very good judgement , her father should be strictly punished for wasting court time by raising false allegations against his daughter.
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Jan 15, 2015 07:56am
There is more to it than meet the eye. How come a minor girl, under any law, take such a major step. The court needs to determine first if she is old enough to make such a critical decision and secondly, to ascertain whether or not she was coerced, coaxed or misled in any way because of her vulnerable position. You can't dismiss a case simply because she stated that she acted on her volition.
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Jan 15, 2015 08:03am
12-year-old girl? This is a forced marriage. She is a small girl. Court should allow her to go her parents.
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Jan 15, 2015 08:05am
Shame on pakistan judiciary ?
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Jan 15, 2015 08:05am
Dismissal of petition filed by father of a Hindu girl who is claimed to be a Muslim girl now was expected in Pakistan courts.
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Jan 15, 2015 08:11am
This is completely wrong and biased Judgement. Those Hindus who kept faith in Jinnah feels betrayed.
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Jan 15, 2015 08:11am
a 12 year old ------can make judgment. wah wah what justice.
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Jan 15, 2015 08:20am
Good god, a 12 years old?! Do these judges have any common sense? I don't care if it was her own free will, she is a minor and should be returned to her parents.
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Jan 15, 2015 08:35am
A twelve year old can legally marry in Pakistan !!
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Jan 15, 2015 08:36am
The girl in the picture doesn't look like a 12 yr old.
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Jan 15, 2015 08:38am
What a mockery of justice! A 12-year old girl, traumatized by being abducted is asked questions by the judges and released to her abductors. Do the judges know if the girl was not threatened with apostasy if she left Islam? Do the judges know if the girl was raped (12 years!). Are they treating the statement of a 12-year old as an adult? For shame! This is why Pakistan is the laughing stock of the entire world.
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Jan 15, 2015 08:52am
If she is twelve years old than she is minor and court did not act properly. The so called husband should be charged for rape.
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Jan 15, 2015 08:54am
Now there should be legal action against those groups who created tense situation between Muslim and Hindu communities. We respect all the religious and ethnic communities living with us.
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Jan 15, 2015 09:01am
She is just 12 how can she marry someone with her own wish.
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Jan 15, 2015 09:07am
12 years old girl is "converted" and Judge dismisses the petition.
What an Pakistani Justice.
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Jan 15, 2015 09:10am
Good luck to both for their own decision.
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Jan 15, 2015 09:15am
If she truly under age, its a travesty of justice and rape of the minor, not to mention kidnapping and forced conversion,
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Jan 15, 2015 09:16am
It would have been prudent to point out her age at the time of her conversion to Islam and her marriage. Was her father's claim that she was a minor when these two life changing events took place valid? If so then her father could go to appelate court. It is heart-breaking to lose your daughter to another faith.
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Jan 15, 2015 09:32am
This is shameful that so many reader on this forum including some respected Indian were yelling on Pakistan, Govt and Islam when, initially this story surfaced in Nov. 2014. Now it has been proved that this girl accepted Islam in her free will without any pressure. SC has given her every chance to say any thing if she doesnt want to be a Muslim. She was staying out side husbands home in NGO custody, was given chance to meet her parents alone and given time to think in isolation.
I have problem with those who will just see name of religion and start jumping on conclusion.
I do not think any girl could be converted to Muslim in Pakistan forcibly.
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Jan 15, 2015 09:34am
This shows how the minorities are treated in Pakistan. They cannot even get justice from the Judiciary & the police.
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Jan 15, 2015 09:36am
It was wrong that she was abducted, but she had accepted her husband and Islam without any complain. A little too late for any action.
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Jan 15, 2015 09:40am
Unbelievable barbarity. This child is 12. India should take this to UN.
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Jan 15, 2015 09:45am
I am dead sure they told her if she tells the truth her family will be wiped out. What about the abduction ? And she is just 12 !!!!
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Jan 15, 2015 09:47am
12 year old girl............. should register rape case against that guy, in Pakistan what's the age for marriage?
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Jan 15, 2015 09:58am
12 Year old???? Even if she was 16, this is a case of child abduction and rape. What kind of justice is this?
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Jan 15, 2015 10:02am
12 year..?its name is kidnap & Rape.
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Jan 15, 2015 10:32am
Now Indian minorities should see the justice system . Can any one imagine it in India ?
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Jan 15, 2015 11:04am
lol. Everyone is a judge here.
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Jan 15, 2015 12:02pm
What?! What is wrong with the judge?! She has the right to change her religion if she wishes, but how can she married at only 12?!
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Jan 15, 2015 12:19pm
@Liaquat Syed "I do not think any girl could be converted to Muslim in Pakistan forcibly." - You are from which planet?
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Jan 15, 2015 12:23pm
I think she is not 12 years old, being minor was one of the many wrong allegations her father made.
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Jan 15, 2015 01:34pm
Why bring religion and politics in a true love story? Every one can see the happiness and satisfaction on the face the girl in the picture. 12 year age is claimed; not established.
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Jan 15, 2015 03:34pm
@salma Are you out of your mind? she is 12 years old, how could she be married and she can embrace any religion?what's wrong with you?
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Jan 15, 2015 09:19pm
@Salman she is not 12 years .this is just a claim by parents. Now she has embraced Islam and have shown willingness to stay with her Muslim husband
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Jan 16, 2015 05:22am
Oh my GOD!!!!! This is a case of rape and pedophilia. No child should be made to suffer this. Pakistanis from now on have no right to blame RSS or BJP of india about forced conversions. I am a Pakistani and I am ashamed to be one today. This is not the pakistan i was raised in nor is this Jinnah's Pakistan. Hats off to the judicial system of Pakistan.
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Jan 17, 2015 10:30am
@Liaquat Syed
A 12 year old girl accepted Islam to marry a muslim??? What kind of nonsense is this??
In any civilized society the abductor/husband/rapist will be severely punished. Here in US, most of the states have a mandatory punishment of 35 years in jail without parole.
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Jan 20, 2015 02:47pm
Do Minorities enjoy even the basic human rights in pakistan? How shameful.
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