On August 21, 2024. A married Hindu woman from Kashmore, Sindh. made headlines after she converted to Islam at the Bharchondi Sharif Dargah. The woman, identified as Kavita, a mother of three daughters—Kajal (8), Manisha (5), and Anita (3)—was influenced by Pir Mian Javed Ahmad Qadri during her visit. Following her conversion, she adopted the Islamic name Ghulam Fatima, and her daughters were renamed Noor Zainab and Ghulam Aisha Maryam.
In a media interaction, Ghulam Fatima stated that her decision to convert was made without coercion, asserting, “There is no pressure on me.” However, this incident is set against a backdrop of troubling reports regarding the treatment of Hindu women in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, where numerous cases of forced conversions have emerged.
The Bharchondi Sharif Dargah Sindh has gained notoriety as a site where many Hindu women and girls have been coerced into converting to Islam, often following incidents of kidnapping, rape, and intimidation. Activists and community leaders have raised alarms about the alleged involvement of Mian Mithu, a figure purportedly backed by Pakistani security agencies, who has been accused of facilitating these conversions through threats and violence.
Despite the outcry from minority communities and human rights advocates, the government has taken limited action to address these issues, leaving many feeling hopeless and vulnerable. The lack of accountability for perpetrators of violence against religious minorities continues to erode trust in the authorities.
This incident underscores a broader and alarming trend concerning the safety and rights of religious minorities in Pakistan. Reports indicate that many Hindu women face increasing risks of violence, coercion, and abuse. Such cases often involve intimidation tactics that compel victims to make statements under duress, raising serious ethical concerns about the authenticity of consent in these conversions.
We urgently call upon the United Nations and the international community to take decisive action and address the alarming trends threatening the rights and safety of Hindu girls & women in the region.
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.
