In a troubling trend of incidents targeting religious minorities, a 14-year-old Muskan Kumari have reportedly been abducted from Dholi Chowk, Ghouspur in Pakistan’s Sindh province. This has reignited concerns over forced conversions and the safety of minority communities.
Earlier, on July 4, a 10-year-old Jamuna Kohli, daughter of a Hindu laborer, was also kidnapped from her home in Goth Bhatiyani, near Khipro in Sanghar District.
These cases follow a distressing pattern seen in the region. Young girls, often between 12 and 15 years old, are reportedly kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam, and married to their abductors or other Muslim men.
When families report these abductions, they often face counter-accusations of harassment from the kidnappers, who claim the marriages are consensual. The victims’ families say that the girls are subjected to threats and intimidation while in captivity, leading many to testify in favor of their abductors when brought before authorities.
The vulnerability of minority communities in Pakistan, particularly Hindu girls, to abduction, rape and forced conversion is heart wrenching. The cases highlight the ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly the Hindu community who are called “kafirs” in Sindh.