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Pakistan: 3 Hindu teen girls kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 10 February 2017, 1:50 IST

Three teenage girls from the Hindu community in the Southern Sindh province of Pakistan have been reportedly kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam, Member of Pakistan's National Assembly Ramesh Kumar has said.

Mail Today quoted Ramesh Kumar as saying that the girls, who were reported missing on 9 April, were kidnapped by influential Muslims - allegedly supported by Pakistani politician, Faqir Sher Mohammed. 

According to Mail Today, data from Pakistan's Hindu Council shows that four Hindu girls were forced to convert to Islam every month. However, the daily also quotes data from the Movement for Solidarity and Peace, which claims that at least 1,000 non-Muslim girls are converted to Islam each year in Pakistan.The report says that these and other alleged atrocities on the two-million-strong community have forced them to migrate to India in large numbers. 

The report further added that apart from abduction of young girls, the Hindu community in Pakistan often complains of traders and businessmen being kidnapped for a ransom and of incidents of religious books of the community being burned. 

The daily quoted Kumar as saying, "Our community can bear looting and the kidnapping of out men, but the abduction of our daughters and burning of holy books are too painful." He added, "Unfortunately, the frequency of these crimes is increasing due to religious extremism."

Kumar also cited a recent incident where religious texts were  reportedly stolen from a Hindu temple and slammed the provincial governments for not providing adequate security to the community.

However, the daily also quoted Mian Abdul Malik of the Bharchundi Sharif Shrine - which is reportedly known for conversions - as denying the allegations. Malik said that the girls come to the shrine to voluntarily convert to Islam so as to marry Muslim men.

First published: 25 April 2016, 2:22 IST