Pakistan: Sikh Granthi's Daughter Abducted, Forcibly Married To Muslim After Conversion

A Pakistani Sikh girl’s abduction, conversion to Islam and a forced marriage to a Muslim man has sparked massive outrage on the either side of the border. Daughter of a Sikh Granthi (priest), the girl was kidnapped by some unidentified men in Nankana Sahib, which happens to be the birthplace of Guru Nanak - the founder of Sikhism. The video of the ‘nikah’ has gone viral. The girl, who is visibly disturbed, is seen uttering few verses from Quran. She even declares in the video that she is marrying the boy, identified as one Mohammad Ehsaan, on her own will. She also claims in the video that she is 19. However, her brothers have said that the girl is between 16 and 17 years.

Shocking incident of a Sikh girl being kidnapped & forced to convert to Islam in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan. Call upon @ImranKhanPTI to take firm and immediate action against the perpetrators. Request @DrSJaishankar to strongly take up the issue with his counterpart at the earliest. pic.twitter.com/hpHvD9kkEJ

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) August 30, 2019

After intense scrutiny and protests, there are reports coming in from Pakistan that the officials have ordered some probe. Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has ordered an investigation into the Nanakana Sahib incident. The family of the girl also issued a video appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Chief Justice of the country.

Modi government has also reacted to the incident. “We have, time and again raised the issue of persecution, abduction, treatment of minorities and conversions in Pakistan. They have an obligation towards these people, they must fulfil it,” foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. “They must check themselves before saying anything to others, their home is burning, so they must first focus on it,” he added.

'THIS needs to stop here!' @harbhajan_singh puts out angry tweet on forced conversion of a Pakistani Sikh girl

READ full story here:https://t.co/i3b7iEHBGa pic.twitter.com/CDRwTTR58q

— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) August 30, 2019

“Sikhs of Pakistan seek help from @ImranKhanPTI. I urge @narendramodi Ji & @DrSJaishankar Ji to raise this issue at global level bcos forced conversions happening in Pakistan have angered all the Sikhs This issue must be taken up at @UN as it threatens Sikhs freedom of religion,” President of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Twitter.

“We stand in solidarity with Sikh brothers in Pakistan who are there at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib to support the demand of Sikh father whose daughter, Jagjit Kaur was forcefully converted to Islam. I appeal to Sikhs all across the world to stand against forced conversions in Pak,” he said in another tweet.

Indian cricketer  Harbhajan Singh also condemned the incident. “This need to stop here.let’s not get there.every religion is beautiful.don’t force anyone to convert in any..GOD is one..let god only decide which religion we born in.don’t try to become god yourself.strict action should be taken towards this @ImranKhanPTI @DrSJaishankar,” Singh said on micro-blogging site.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The video of the forced ‘nikah’ from Pakistan has gone viral.
• The girl, who is visibly disturbed, is seen saying verses from Quran.
• She even declares in the video that she is marrying at her own will.