A 15-Year-Old’s Stolen Voice: The Case of Hema Kolhi
Sajawal, Sindh-Â In a case that has shocked human rights advocates, a 15-year-old Hindu girl with disabilities, Hema Kolhi, has allegedly been forcibly converted to Islam and married to a 50-year-old man. What makes this incident particularly egregious is that Hema is mute and deaf, raising serious ethical and legal questions about consent, exploitation, and the misuse of religion.
How can a minor with severe communication disabilities possibly understand- vlet alone consent to—a religious conversion or marriage? Yet, in Pakistan, such cases continue unchecked, exposing the systemic failures that leave minorities and vulnerable individuals defenseless.
A Marriage Built on Coercion?
Hema’s case follows a disturbing pattern in Pakistan, where young Hindu and Christian girls- often minors or from marginalized communities- are abducted, converted, and married off to older men. But Hema’s disabilities make this case even more alarming.
- She cannot hear or speak—how was her “consent” obtained?
- She is a minor—how is this marriage legally or morally justified?
- Who is protecting her rights when the law itself is weaponized against the vulnerable?
Human rights activists argue that this is not a marriage, but exploitation—a gross violation of a child’s basic human rights.
“Religion should never be used as a tool to justify exploitation,” said a local activist. “Faith is a personal journey, not a legal loophole to legitimize abuse.”
The Legal and Ethical Failures
Pakistan’s laws prohibit child marriage and require free consent for religious conversion. Yet, in practice: ✅ Forced conversions are rarely investigated. ✅ Marriage certificates are falsified to show the girl as an adult. ✅ Courts often side with perpetrators, dismissing claims of coercion. ✅ Police and local authorities turn a blind eye, especially when victims are minorities or disabled.
Hema’s case is a test for Pakistan’s justice system.
- Will the law finally intervene to protect a disabled minor?
- Or will her story fade into silence, like so many before her?
A Crisis of Consent and Accountability
This incident exposes deeper systemic issues in Pakistan:
- Child Marriage Loopholes – Despite laws, underage marriages persist, especially in cases of forced conversions.
- Exploitation of the Disabled – Vulnerable individuals like Hema are easy targets because they cannot speak for themselves.
- Failure of Child Protection – No safeguards exist to prevent predatory marriages under the guise of religion.
- Impunity for Perpetrators – Those who exploit minors face no consequences, emboldening further abuses.
Who will be held accountable for Hema’s stolen childhood?
A Call for Justice and Reform
Hema’s case must not be ignored. It demands: ✔ An immediate, independent investigation into her conversion and marriage. ✔ Legal action against those responsible, including officials who enabled this abuse. ✔ Stronger enforcement of child marriage laws and protection for disabled individuals. ✔ International pressure on Pakistan to end forced conversions and protect religious minorities.
The world is watching. Will Pakistan finally act to protect its most vulnerable? Or will Hema Kolhi become another forgotten victim of a broken system?
#JusticeForHemaKolhi #EndForcedConversions #ProtectMinorities #ChildRights #PakistanWakeUp 💔
For more updates and detailed coverage of this case and other issues affecting the Hindu and Sindhi communities in Sindh, Pakistan, stay tuned to Sindh Renaissance.
