In a deeply distressing incident, a 20-year-old Hindu girl named Neela, daughter of Ratanshi, was reportedly abducted from her home in Gaon 78 Mori, near Mirpurkhas, in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Following her abduction, Neela was forcibly converted to Islam and married off to a Muslim man named Ashraf Marri. Her name has been changed to Aisha following her conversion.
This incident is not an isolated one. It is part of a disturbing pattern of forced religious conversions and marriages of minor girls, particularly from the Hindu community, in Pakistan. The interior of Sindh province, which has a large Hindu population in areas like Thar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Ghotki, and Khairpur, has been particularly affected by this issue.
The news of Neela’s abduction and subsequent forced conversion has sparked outrage both locally and globally. Local Hindu leaders, along with human rights activists, have condemned the incident, calling for immediate action and strict laws to protect the vulnerable minority communities from such abuses. Meanwhile, Neela’s family, traumatized and deeply distressed, are seeking justice and the safe return of their daughter.
This incident has once again highlighted the dire need for effective legislation and enforcement of laws that safeguard the rights of minorities in the region. The Pakistani government, under its international obligations, is required to ensure the protection of its minority communities, especially underage girls, who are often the most vulnerable to such heinous acts.
As the outcry over Neela’s case continues to grow, it is hoped that this incident will serve as a wake-up call for the authorities to take firm action against forced conversions and child marriages, ensuring that justice is served and such incidents are prevented in the future.
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.
