Contrary to claims, a high percentage of faith conversions in Pakistan is neither underage nor any of it is forced in any way. Most of the religious conversions in Pakistan primarily took place for marriage reasons, to break free from forced marriages, or to get rid of domestic burdens prevailing within the minorities’ community.
This was brought into light by Dr Ghulam Hussain Sufi, who presented key findings of his research conducted for IPS study on forced conversion during a seminar “Religious Conversion, Issues, Controversies, and Realities,” organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on January 31, 2023.
The seminar, presided over by the Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Mufti Abdul Shakoor, was attended by diplomats, ambassadors, representatives of national and international institutions and organizations, and students working on the issues pertaining to interfaith harmony.
Presenting his findings of IPS baseline study titled ‘Forced Conversion or Faith Conversion: Rhetoric and Reality,’ Dr Hussain apprised the audience that out of 6055 cases of faith conversion, and data collection conducted under this study, more than 74 percent i.e., 4494 cases were mass conversions, that is family conversions. While a very little percentage of data indicated underage conversions, out of which none was forced in any sense and the primary reason being marriage.
The speaker further informed the audience that the whole narrative of underage forced conversion is based on a lack of objectivity and scientific authenticity. He stressed that free choice of religious conversion should not be called forced conversion and this should be confronted by spreading awareness about the reality behind the issue among the masses.
He also highlighted the need and importance of correct legislation in this regard under the Supreme law i.e., the Quran and Shariah. This refers to rightly identifying the cases as free conversions and not forced marriage or forced conversion.
