Imran Khan terms forced conversions as ‘un-Islamic’; vows to protect worship places of minorities
Team Udayavani, Jul 29, 2019, 7:09 PM IST
Image for Representation
Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday termed the practice of forced conversions as “un-Islamic” and said there was no precedent in Islamic history for forcefully converting others, according to media reports.
Addressing an event in connection with National Minorities Day at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (President’s House) in Islamabad, Khan also vowed to protect and develop worship places of minorities in Pakistan and also facilitate them to the maximum level to perform them religious rituals.
Khan said the Prophet himself had given minorities religious freedom and protected their places of worship, Dawn newspaper reported.
“How can we then take it into our own hands to forcefully convert someone to Islam – either by marrying (non-Muslim) women (…) or on gunpoint or to (by threatening to) kill someone because of their religion?” he asked.
“All these things are un-Islamic. If God hadn’t given his messengers the power to impose their beliefs on someone, who are we (to do so)?” he asked, explaining that the messengers’ duty was only to spread the word of God.
Khan reiterated his commitment to build Pakistan on the model of ‘State of Madina’, ensuring rights to people, rule of law and provision of facilities to citizens at equal level, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
The prime minister said that his government is committed to open the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh community on 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.
His statement comes months after the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in its annual report in April raised concerns about incidents of forced conversions and marriages of Hindu and Christian girls, saying around 1,000 such cases were reported in the southern Sindh province alone last year.
In March, two Hindu teenage sisters – Raveena (13) and Reena (15) – were allegedly kidnapped by a group of “influential” men from their home in Ghotki district in Sindh on the eve of Holi. Soon after the kidnapping, a video went viral in which a cleric was purportedly shown soleminising the marriage of the two girls, triggering a nationwide outrage.
Early this month, Pakistan’s Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution demanding that the practice of forced conversions and abductions of Hindu girls must be stopped and action be taken against those involved in such activities.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Results of US elections might not be known for several days: Harris campaign
Indian restaurants in Singapore welcome govt move to allow them to hire cooks from India
‘This will be most important day in American history’: Trump
Millions cast vote in historic US presidential election
‘Idiot’: Former Canadian Sikh minister slams Justin Trudeau over Khalistan issue
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Gadag: Man throws three children into river, jumps in himself following family dispute
Over 20 Congress MLAs submit complaint to high command against Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan
Results of US elections might not be known for several days: Harris campaign
Original East India Company wound up but new breed of monopolists is in its place: Rahul
Indian restaurants in Singapore welcome govt move to allow them to hire cooks from India
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.