In a recent incident that unfolded in Samaro, located in Sindh province of Pakista, a young visually-impaired woman named Anita Meghwar, was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam for marriage.
According to available accounts, Anita, who is the 18-year-old daughter of Lalu Meghwar and a resident of Wahid Colony in Naukot, allegedly experienced a traumatic sequence of events, including abduction, sexual assault, and a coercive conversion to Islam. The person accused in this case goes by the name “Mohammed Ayub,” known by various aliases such as Peer Jan Sarhandi and Baba Sai. It is reported that Anita was married to a man named Afzal Ali.
According to an article in The Daily Barsaat Karachi, Anita is said to have stated, “I am a Muslim, and my Islamic name is Fatima. According to Sharia, I am married to Afzal Ali, and I identify as a woman.“
Totally Blind Hindu minor girl abducted, raped, forcibly converted to Islam and married to a Muslim man ❗️
29.10.23 दरगाह गुलजार ए खलील, सामारो #Sindh #Pakistan
नौकोट में वाहिद कॉलोनी के रहवासी हिन्दू लालू मेघवार की नाबालिग बच्ची अनिता (आंखों से बिल्कुल अंधी) हुई अगवा, बलात्कार,… pic.twitter.com/BRucl9twea— Mahesh Vasu (@maheshmvasu) November 5, 2023
However, the situation has become more intricate due to sources suggesting that Anita may have left her home voluntarily four days prior to the incident. It is claimed that she arrived at the Dargah Gulzar e Khalil in Samaro and entered into a marital union with Afzal Ali, signifying her conversion to Islam.
These contrasting narratives have given rise to a contentious debate, with some arguing that Anita willingly embraced Islam and made the choice to marry Afzal Ali. Her conversion and subsequent marriage have raised questions concerning religious freedom, as well as concerns about the circumstances that led to her decisions.
In Pakistan, there is a distressing frequency of reports involving the abduction and forced conversion of Hindu girls, particularly minors, on a daily basis. Given this context, it is highly plausible that in Anita’s case as well, she may have been compelled to convert and marry against her will.
(With inputs from Hindu Post)
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