Pakistan province approves bill prohibiting forced conversions
Pakistan's Sindh province has passed a law against forced conversions last week following complaints from religious minorities that Muslims are forcibly converting people to Islam.
The Sindh Criminal Law (Protection of Minorities) Bill of 2015 requires a 21-day period for adults to consider their decision to convert to another religion and forbids minors from converting even of their own free will, Al-Jazeera reported.
"Forced conversion is an abhorrent and violent offence and an issue that has become prevalent across Sindh [that] must be eliminated by recognising the importance of tolerance, peace and respect for all religions and persons, irrespective of their religion," the bill stated.
The bill was proposed over a year ago by Kumar Goklani, a legislator of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional.
"Every person has the right to practise their religion and beliefs," said in a phone interview with Al-Jazeera.
"We must ensure that no one is forced to change their religion due to physical or mental pressure on them. We now have a law to help stop this practice. It is a historical move," he added.
He added that those who are found to be in violation of the law would receive a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
The NGO known as Movement for Solidarity and Peace in Pakistan has estimated that at least 1,000 girls and women go through forced conversions and marriages in the country each year.
Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), an aid group that supports persecuted Christians in Pakistan, welcomed the new law and stated that "it is a great step taken by the Sindh government to protect the religious minorities."
Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK, noted that police do not usually act upon complaints against forced conversions out of fear from the Muslim community but they are now obligated to take action because of the new law.
Saeed called on the authorities in Punjab, a Pakistani province populated by many Christians, to follow the example of Sindh and pass a law against forced conversions as soon as possible.
