Human rights organizations estimate that more than 1,000 minority girls are forcibly converted to Islam every year in Pakistan, most of them from the Dalit Hindu communities in Sindh.
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Islamabad: Hindu girls in Pakistani schools are being pressured to convert to Islam. Several Hindu students in Pakistan's Sindh province have alleged that they are being pressured to adopt Islam in order to continue their education. Following the students' allegations, the Pakistani government has ordered an investigation.
Government Orders Investigation
Sindh's Minister for Religious Affairs, Keso Mal Khel Das, informed the Senate on Thursday that the government has ordered an investigation into the matter. A spokesperson for Sindh's Education Minister, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, confirmed that a committee has been formed to visit Mirpur Sakro and ascertain the facts.
He said on Friday, "The committee members have already recorded the statements of the affected students, their parents, teachers, and other staff." He added that no one is allowed to force anyone to convert to another religion.
Sindh has the largest Hindu population in Pakistan. The province is already grappling with cases of Hindu girls being abducted and married off to older Muslim men. Human rights organizations estimate that more than 1,000 minority girls are forcibly converted to Islam every year in Pakistan, most of them from the Dalit Hindu communities in Sindh.
Students Pressured to Recite the Kalima
In late November, parents of some Hindu students at a government high school in Mirpur Sakro, Sindh, alleged that the school's headmistress had reportedly asked Hindu girls to convert to Islam in order to continue their studies.
They alleged that the Hindu students were being forced to recite the Kalima (Islamic declaration of faith) and that their religion was being ridiculed. The parents also claimed that some students were sent home for refusing to convert to Islam or recite the Kalima.
Hindu students in Pakistani schools are being pressured to convert to Islam. Several Hindu students in Pakistan's Sindh province have alleged that they are being pressured to convert to Islam in order to continue their education. Following the students' allegations, the Pakistani government has ordered an investigation.
