In a country marred by religious intolerance and systemic discrimination, Pakistan continues to witness horrifying atrocities against religious minorities. The recent abduction of 14-year-old Sohana Sharma Kumari, a Hindu girl, serves as a distressing reminder of the ongoing plight faced by minorities.

On June 2, 2023, Sohana was forcibly converted to Islam and married off against her will, only to be met with a court that denied her plea to return to her anguished family. This article sheds light on the details of Sohana's abduction and the broader issue of forced conversions and kidnappings targeting Hindu girls in Pakistan.

The Abduction and Desperate Appeals

Sohana Sharma Kumari, a young girl from the Benazirabad district of Sindh province, was violently abducted from her own home on that fateful day. In a brazen act, her tutor and his accomplices stormed into her house, brandishing guns, and snatched her away in front of her distraught mother. Sohana's father, Dilip Kumar, immediately filed a police report, alleging her abduction. However, the nightmare was far from over.

Days after her abduction, a video surfaced in which Sohana was coerced into stating that she had willingly converted to Islam and married a Muslim man. Distraught and fearful, Sohana's parents fervently argued that she was a minor and unable to make such decisions for herself. The heinous act of abducting and forcefully converting a young girl sparked outrage on social media platforms, prompting authorities to intervene.

The Court's Disheartening Decision

After five days of captivity, Sohana was finally located and rescued by the authorities. However, the subsequent legal battle to secure her return to her family proved to be an uphill struggle. On June 9, Sohana appeared before the district court in Larkana, bravely recounting her abduction and the coerced conversion. She expressed her heartfelt desire to be reunited with her grieving parents, hoping for justice to prevail.

To the dismay of Sohana and her family, the judge adjourned the case until June 12, citing concerns that she may have been under undue pressure while giving her statement. Consequently, she was remanded to a women's shelter home, adding further anguish to an already traumatized girl. It is worth noting that similar cases in the past have seen victims expressing their desire to return to their families, only to be sent to shelter homes against their will.

The Agony of Parents

Sohana's mother, Jamna Sharma, broke down in the presence of the media at the court. She recounted the distressing details of her daughter's abduction, highlighting that her tutor had requested a substantial loan of Rs 100,000 just a few days prior. Jamna expressed her anguish, recalling how she warned the tutor against discussing such matters with Sohana. Despite her pleas and offers of money and jewelry, the armed abductors callously ignored her, snatching Sohana away.

Dilip Kumar, Sohana's father, expressed his frustration and disbelief at the accused presenting fabricated documents in court, claiming that she had willingly converted to Islam and married a Muslim man. He questioned how government officials could endorse such documents when it was evident that the girl was only 14 years old. Dilip Kumar's despair echoes the sentiments of countless parents who have seen their daughters fall victim to forced conversions.

Political Outrage and Demands for Justice

The shocking incident involving Sohana Sharma Kumari drew the attention of Lal Chand Ukrani, a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party, who raised the issue in the Sindh Assembly. Ukrani condemned the cruel act of forced conversion and stressed that no religion permits such coerced marriages or conversions. He highlighted the case of the 14-year-old Hindu girl from Qazi Ahmad and the subsequent presentation of a marriage certificate.

Another MPA, Mangla Sharma, belonging to the MQM-P, pleaded for mercy, her voice trembling with emotion as she spoke about Sohana. Mangla Sharma emphasized that Sohana was a class eight student, compelled to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim man. Her tearful plea resonated with the pain and helplessness felt by countless families affected by forced conversions and abductions.

The Alarming Pattern and Statistics

The abduction and forced conversion of Hindu girls in Sindh have become a pressing concern for the Hindu community in Pakistan. Tragically, this is not an isolated incident but part of an alarming pattern. Recent reports indicate a surge in such cases in Sindh, with overwhelmed lower courts inundated with pleas from anguished parents seeking justice and the safe return of their abducted daughters.

According to a report by the Human Rights Observer in 2023, a shocking 124 women from minority communities were forcibly converted to Islam in Pakistan in 2022 alone. Out of these victims, 81 were Hindu, 42 were Christian, and one was Sikh. Even more disturbing is the fact that 23 percent of the girls were below the age of 14, while 36 percent fell between the ages of 14 and 18. Only 12 percent of the victims were adults, and the age of 28 percent was not reported.

The prevalence of forced religious conversions is particularly pronounced in Sindh, accounting for 65 percent of the reported cases in 2022. Punjab witnessed 33 percent of the cases, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan each reported 0.8 percent.

The plight of Sohana Sharma Kumari, forcibly converted and married off against her will, highlights the harrowing experiences faced by Hindu girls in Pakistan. The pain and anguish of her parents, coupled with the shocking statistics and patterns of forced conversions, demand urgent attention and action. It is imperative for the international community, human rights organizations, and the Pakistani government to work together to protect the rights and dignity of religious minorities. Only through a collective effort can we hope to create a more inclusive and tolerant society, free from the horrors of forced conversions and abductions.