Christian girl abducted, forcibly "converted" and forced to marry a Muslim in Lahore

[Deleted]

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Chris...ore-30237.html

Lahore (AsiaNews) - After a Pakistani Christian girl from Lahore (Punjab) was abducted by a Muslim landowner, she was forced to marry him after conversion to Islam. Her family reacted in a public protest, demanding justice from civil authorities.

Police and the courts have failed so far to act and return the girl to her parents. The local Catholic Church has instead backed the family, condemning the "widespread practice" of kidnapping young Christian and Hindu women to marry them forcibly to Muslims and reduce them to a "state of slavery".

The latest episode involves a 16-year-old girl, Samariya Nadeem (Masih), who was abducted and forcibly married to a rich landowner.

The abduction took place 22 days ago in Lahore's 270-TDA Layyah District when the young woman was on her way to school.

The family filed a complaint (First Information Report 14/14, under Section 365 B of the Penal Code) with the police for the abduction reporting that Samariya was taken against her will and forced to marry the man.

So far, police have failed to pursue any legal action against the local wealthy Muslim landowner who abducted the girl because of the influence he wields. Police investigators were also unable to talk to the bruised and terrified victim.

Anonymous police sources confirmed that the girl was "abducted" and forced to marry. However, an Islamic cleric involved in the affair said that it was "not illegal to abduct and convert non-Muslims".

This morning, the family organised a protest rally in front of the Lahore Press Club. Under Pakistani law, no one underage can be married without parental consent.

Civil society groups and human rights activists have appealed to Punjab's chief minister to take action and return Samariya to her parents and bring her abductor to justice.

Kidnapping and forced marriage have become a major issue in Pakistan, especially in southern Punjab and in the interior of Sindh province.

This is "very common in the region," said Fr Haroon James, a priest and activist in Lahore. Young women and girls "are forcefully converted and married to influential landlords who keep them as slaves."

Unfortunately, people seem to be increasingly "hopeless". For this reason, the Church has spoken out in the case, "demanding justice for her and the family." Yet, "Despite the fact that a FIR has been registered, the authorities have failed to act and protect the vulnerable," the priest added.

With a population of more than 180 million people (97 per cent Muslim), Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, the second largest Muslim nation after Indonesia.

About 80 per cent of Muslims are Sunni, whilst Shias are 20 per cent. Hindus are 1.85 per cent, followed by Christians (1.6 per cent) and Sikhs (0.04 per cent).

Violence against ethnic and religious minorities is commonplace across the country, with Shia Muslims and Christians as the main target, with things getting worse.

Dozens incidents of violence have occurred in recent years, against individuals or entire communities, like in Gojra in 2009 or Joseph Colony in Lahore in March 2013, often perpetrated under the pretext of the country's blasphemy laws.

So, clerics or whatever to call them say it's not "illegal", essentially - condoned.

When are those countries ever going to progress and stop violating human rights?

[Kraenen]

when do you think anyone is going to stop violating human rights?

[derpkitteh]

when will they progress? they won't. world really would be a better place without them.

[diddle]

Wouldn't it be nice if the world was an interactive map and we could just right-click/delete certain areas?

[Mihalik]

So, clerics or whatever to call them say it's not "illegal", essentially - condoned.

When are those countries ever going to progress and stop violating human rights?

News at 11. Gender Equality is the byproduct of economically developed secular society.

[Vargur]

when will they progress? they won't. world really would be a better place without them.

No, the world would be a better place without religion.

[obdigore]

Welp this thread is going to get locked in 3.. 2..

[Wells]

Ya'll know its only been like the last two generations or so that our country hasn't had awful religious laws actively enforced right?

[Avada Kedavra]

Wouldn't it be nice if the world was an interactive map and we could just right-click/delete certain areas?

It's called a nuke.

[satimy]

Christians that judge people aren't doing it right

[OzoAndIndi]

However, an Islamic cleric involved in the affair said that it was "not illegal to abduct and convert non-Muslims".

That's like old-time crap when your tribe kidnaps people from others and visa versa because everyone needs to keep the DNA fresh. Using that sort of mentality in 2014 to justify taking someone hostage like that is unforgivable. Some people need to figure out what year it actually is.

[DrStiglit]

Ya'll know its only been like the last two generations or so that our country hasn't had awful religious laws actively enforced right?

Are you implying that my country is the same as your country?

[Ghaleon]

They will not change one of the many reasons i feel that religion should be obliterated 97% in that country practice it? sorry 3% but run fast cause the world would be better without that other 97%

[Wells]

Are you implying that my country is the same as your country?

Pretty much the entire west is only a couple generations removed from active religious influence in their laws.

[DrStiglit]

Pretty much the entire west is only a couple generations removed from active religious influence in their laws.

What if I were Russian?

[obdigore]

What if I were Russian?

Then you still have religious influence on your lawmaking.

[Charge me Doctor]

That's like old-time crap when your tribe kidnaps people from others and visa versa because everyone needs to keep the DNA fresh. Using that sort of mentality in 2014 to justify taking someone hostage like that is unforgivable. Some people need to figure out what year it actually is.

Some people still hunt buttass naked in the wild and dance around fire in 2014. They totally need to figure out what your it actually is

[Mihalik]

That's like old-time crap when your tribe kidnaps people from others and visa versa because everyone needs to keep the DNA fresh. Using that sort of mentality in 2014 to justify taking someone hostage like that is unforgivable. Some people need to figure out what year it actually is.

Socio economic conditions have very little to do with what year we are in. There are millions and millions of people in the world who still live in what is essentially the Bronze Age.

[Mormolyce]

Pretty much the entire west is only a couple generations removed from active religious influence in their laws.

Except for the ones that aren't removed at all.

[cFortyfive]

Pretty much the entire west is only a couple generations removed from active religious influence in their laws.

Yeah funny how just a couple decades are enough to develop such a superiority complex all around.