World Sindhi Congress (WSC) and International Sindhi Women Organisation (ISWO) held a rally in front of British Prime Minister’s, 10 Downing Street, residence in London to protest against the forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan, particularly the recent decision of Supreme Court of Pakistan in the case of Rinkal Kumari.
In recent years, there has been an increase, particularly in Sindh, of the abduction and forced conversion of Hindu girls into Islam. Young Hindu girls are being kidnapped, subjected to forced marriages with Muslim boys and converted to Islam.
The rally was attended by a large number of British and international human rights organisations including Sindhis and Baloch. Rally was also supported by Christian, Hindus, Ahmedis and other minority groups of Pakistan and other countries
The demonstrators raised slogans against the state sponsored forced conversion of young Hindu girls, new trial for Rinkal Kumari case and freedom of Rinkal, Lata and Aisha Kumari.
The rally was addressed by Peter Thatachel from Thatachal Foundation, Michael Maseey from United Christian Forum, Ruby Akhtar of Sindh Christian NGO, Ravi Ladva, Barrister Sassui Abbas Laghari of ISWO, Veena Bedi from Hindu Cultural Society, Hidayat Bhutto from WSC, Noordin Mengal of Balochistan National Party, Lakhu Luhana, secretary general of WSC and Dr Rubina Shaikh, Chairperson of ISWO and Vice chairperson of WSC.
The speakers said the Hindu women are being used as weapon to terrorise and push out Hindus from their own motherland. Hindu, Sindhis, the rightful people of Sindh are subject to terror and systematic state sponsored abuse through kidnapping and violence. Young girls from Hindu faith and in some instances married Hindu wives are being kidnapped by state sponsored tugs and religious clerics who are involved in systematic harassment and kidnapping.
Speakers said our sisters and daughters in Sindh need our support and help to counter the act of fascist and violent state who each and every day are busy destabilising Sindhi people and Sindh. In Sindh, which through centuries has been beacon of secularism and tolerance today our indigenous people are being victimised in their own motherland and young girls are victim of this fascist state.
Speakers said that those tears, abuse and pain of our sisters and daughters will never be forgotten by true Sindhis and this coward state cannot divide Sindhis. We Sindhis will be more united than even before to protect our young daughters and sisters.
The rally condemned the so called Chief Justice of Supreme Court who against all the norms of justice showed his religious extremism and handed over innocent girls to their abductors. The rally requested the international community to support the Sindhi people’s struggle against religious fascists. The rally also demanded that the case of Rinkal Kumari should be heard in an international court away from the prejudiced religious bigots to save the innocent life from continued violence.
At the end of the rally a delegation comprising of Dr Hidayat Bhutto, Sanjay Ahuja, Ms Sassui Abbas Laghari, Dr Rubina Shaikh and Lal Luhana went to 10 Downing Street where Rubina and Sassui Laghari submitted a petition for Rt Honorable David Cameron, the British Prime Minster, requesting to influence the Government of Pakistan to make all the necessary legal and policy changes to stop the kidnapping and forced conversions of Hindu girls and young women, kidnappings of Hindus for ransom and disparate treatment of Scheduled Caste Population.
The World Sindhi Congress is based in the UK, USA, Canada, and Sindh and is one of the most prominent human rights advocacy organisations for Sindh and Sindhis. The main objective of the WSC is to create a better understanding within the international community about the persecuted status of Sindhis in Pakistan and about the Sindhi people’s struggle for human rights, including the right to self-determination. WSC is a registered company in the UK and the USA, and carry out various service activities.
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