Young Hindu Girl Reunited with Family After Forced Conversion

Karachi, Nov 3 (PTI) – A young Hindu girl from Pakistan, who endured an agonizing three months after being kidnapped, forcibly converted, and married to a Muslim man, has been reunited with her family following a court order in Sindh, according to a community leader in Karachi.

In Umerkot, approximately 310 kilometers east of Karachi, a lower court ruled on Saturday that Sunita Kumari Maharaj should be returned to her family. Shiva Kaachi, a Hindu activist who advocated on behalf of her parents, reported the decision.

Sunita was taken from Kunri, a town in the Mirpurkhas district, and coerced into converting to Islam before being married to a significantly older Muslim man.

Local Hindu community leaders and rights activists remarked on how Sunita’s case stands out as one of the few where justice has been served for Hindu girls.

“Sunita’s situation is not unique, as the systematic abductions, forced conversions, and marriages of Hindu girls pose an ongoing crisis that haunts our community in Sindh,” stated Advocate Chandar Kohli from Umerkot on Monday.

He explained that Sunita was located in Umerkot after her parents and activists filed a case. Although Sunita consistently claimed abduction and forced conversion, the court initially placed her in a safe house during the hearings.

“A major issue is that accused individuals often present fake documents to validate the legality of such marriages, claiming the victims married willingly. These victims belong to predominantly poor families lacking the resources or knowledge to defend themselves legally,” Kohli noted.

“This urgency has prompted numerous Hindu leaders to encourage more educated Hindus to step in, recognizing the magnitude of this issue impacting our community,” Kohli added.

Just last month, another 15-year-old Hindu girl alleged abduction, rape, and forced marriage after her conversion to Islam. On October 10, she addressed a sessions court in Mirpurkhas district, asserting she was kidnapped and forced into marriage with an older Muslim man against her will. The court instructed authorities to house the girl in a safe place while awaiting a final ruling.

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