IPS’ baseline study refutes allegations of ‘forced conversion’ in Pakistan
Islamabad, 25 October: A baseline study (http://www.ips.org.pk/forced-conversions-or-faith-conversions-rhetoric-and-reality/) conducted at Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) analyzing a number of reports by various civil society organizations alleging forced conversion of minorities in Pakistan terms them baseless, lacking empirical evidence.
Conducted by Ghulam Hussain, a PhD scholar in anthropology at Quaid-i-Azam University and a research fellow at IPS, the report titled “Faith Conversions or Forced Conversions: Reality and Rhetoric” digs into the popular narrative that suggests that the members of minority communities, particularly women and girls, are forcibly converted to Islam in Pakistan – an allegation that has resonated on various forums including the Indian Parliament and USCIRF reports. Some of these reports claim that as many as 1000 Hindu and Christian girls are kidnapped, forcibly converted and married of annually in Pakistan.
Through content analysis of some three dozen reports of various human rights organizations, this baseline study suggests that the reports that are often presented as evidence for alleging that there is an organized and systematic effort of forcibly converting non-Muslims to Islam, lack any primary or empirical data. Such reports, the study claims, rely on clichés cited from another report that too is prepared without an evidence. At most, some of these reports base themselves on anecdotal evidence taken from newspaper reports and political statements and none of these reports verifies the allegations of forced conversions from ‘the supposed victims and so-called perpetrators’. Claims in these reports are tautological in nature and make circular arguments on the basis of unverified/unverifiable secondary sources.
The study also interrogates the polemics against religious clerics, lawyers, police, and the State of Pakistan that characterizes the content of the reports. It shows how the narrative is developed into a charged rhetoric through social media platforms to malign the state and society of Pakistan and the religion of Islam. It alleges that the social media accounts associated with Hindu extremist groups in India are the most active in spreading such allegations.
The study also underscores the narrative internal to minority communities, particularly the Scheduled Castes or Dalits. It suggests that caste-based divisions, endogamy, and patriarchy are among the socio-economic push and pull factors that cause faith conversion, apart from a natural and genuine urge for a more satisfying way of life as religion. In fact, the conversions have been taking place on individual and collective levels through all times in the region of Sindh and Southern Punjab where forced conversions are mostly alleged, it underscores. “To say that in Pakistan, non-Muslims are forced by religious clerics and the State will be a sweepingly naïve understanding of the very complex phenomena, and will be as flawed as the assertion that free-will conversions are always divinely inspired”, the study emphasizes. The study calls upon the civil society organizations and responsible citizens to abstain from raising ‘false alarm’ on sensitive issues through a rhetoric that tarnishes the image of Pakistan and Muslims without any clear justification and undermines genuine issues of the oppressed scheduled castes.
Given the lack of evidence of ‘forced conversion’, the study recommends against an anti-conversion law and sees it as potentially ‘immature and flawed’ without a real picture being explored.
Recommending primary research into the subject to understand the phenomenon of faith conversions, and the various factors contributing to it, the report has been launched at a time when a parliamentary committee on forced religious conversions has been inquiring into the subject and has recently returned after meeting various stakeholders in parts of Sindh.
This study is expected to give a new turn to the current debate on faith conversions in the country.
PHF hires Australian trainer to improve players fitness
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has hired Australian trainer Daniel Berry to improve the fitness of the players. The PHF President Brig (r) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar confirmed that Berry will arrive in Pakistan next month to work on the fitness of players from the senior, junior and U16 teams.
“Berry will arrive next month,” he said. “He will work with the players of the senior team along with junior and U16 teams. He will help the team in preparing for the Junior Asia Cup as well. Primary aim of hiring Berry is to improve the fitness of the players.”
Pakistan’s team for the Junior Asia Cup is set to depart for Bangladesh in January next year.
This will be Berry’s second term with PHF. Previously, he worked from April to September 2018 and resigned from the post after the departure of Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans.
Bilawal asks Quetta people to support PDM
QUETTA, Oct 25 (DNA): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal
Bhutto Zardari on Sunday asked the people of Quetta and Balochistan to
support the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of political
opposition parties in order to restore “real” democracy in the country.
Addressing the PDM rally in Quetta, the PPP leader said that the people
of Balochistan are living in miserable conditions despite having plenty
of natural resources.
“What kind of democracy is this where no one including media and people
is free,” he said and added that nation wanted freedom from poverty,
elimination of inflation and are demanding to restore “real” democracy.
Speaking over inflation, the PPP leader said that the prices of all
necessities including medicine prices have skyrocketed under the
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
The PPP chairman also criticized the government for not laying the
Pakistan Islands Development Authority (PIDA) Ordinance.” The incumbent
govt wants to seize the islands of Balochistan and Sindh”.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari once again saluted the Sindh police officers who
stepped down in the wake of the ‘Karachi incident’. Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Sunday said that the
people of Balochistan and Karachi demand that “give respect to vote”.
Addressing the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) public meeting at
Ayub Stadium in Quetta, Maryam Nawaz said that the cause of the problems
of Balochistan was that the vote was not given respect.
She said that the PML-N government, in its tenure, had given
scholarships to the students of Balochistan in Punjab’s universalities.
Maryam Nawaz said that the prevailing government has abolished the
scholarships. “The students of Balochistan and Punjab are close to my
heart,” she said.=DNA
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BLASPHEMOUS CARTOONS: PM Imran Khan slams French President Macron
Imran Khan says French president ‘deliberately provoked’ Muslims; The French Interior Ministry announced that its officials will target for possible dissolution 50 French Muslim associations if they are found guilty of promoting hatred
Naveed Miraj/DNA
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan slammed French President Emmanuel Macron over his anti-Muslim attitude on Sunday, criticising him for hurting the sentiments of millions of Muslims around the world.
The French president is being criticised with protests breaking out in several cities across the world after Macron accused Muslims of separatism and vowed not to give up cartoons depicting the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
His comments came in response to the beheading of a teacher, Samuel Paty, a 47-year-old teacher, who was attacked on his way home from the junior high school where he taught in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, 40 kilometres northwest of Paris.
The teacher had shown cartoons disrespecting Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), according to media reports.
In a series of tweets on Saturday, the prime minister, while presenting examples of the iconic leader Nelson Mandela, said that this is a time when President Macron could have put the healing touch and denied space to extremists rather than “creating further polarisation and marginalisation that inevitably leads to radicalisation”.
“It is unfortunate that he has chosen to encourage Islamophobia by attacking Islam rather than the terrorists who carry out violence, be it Muslims, White Supremacists or Nazi ideologists. Sadly, President Macron has chosen to deliberately provoke Muslims, incl his own citizens, through encouraging the display of blasphemous cartoons targeting Islam and our Prophet (PBUH), the premier wrote on Twitter.
Condemning that by attacking Islam, Macron has hurt the sentiments of Muslims around the world, PM Imran said that the last thing the world wants or needs is further “polarisation”.
“Public statements based on ignorance will create more hate, Islamophobia and space for extremists,” he added.
France has recently stepped up measures in the country which its Muslim community views as anti-Islam. The French government has said it fears militancy is taking over some Muslim communities in the country.
The French government is considering proposals to restrict funds that Muslim communities in the country receive from abroad. The government also wants to create a certificate program for French-trained imams, as well as other things.
The French Interior Ministry announced that its officials will target for possible dissolution 50 French Muslim associations if they are found guilty of promoting hatred. The list of names include that of a mainstream group that aims to battle Islamophobia.
Erdogan says Macron ‘needs mental treatment’
ANKARA (DNA) – Turkish Presidnet Tayyip Erdogan has suggested the French President Macon to get his mind checked.
He made these remarks after the French President allowed displaying of blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). France has recalled its ambassador from Turkey after statement of the Turkish President.
Mr Bourita: “Morocco Supports Libya Ceasefire Agreement, ‘Very Positive Development’”
RABAT, OCT 25 – Morocco supports the ceasefire agreement between the Libyan parties, which represents a “very positive development” and “very good news”, said Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Expatraites, Mr. Nasser Bourita, on Saturday.
The Kingdom congratulates the Libyan parties for this agreement as well as the United Nations for this “new achievement” and calls on all parties to respect its provisions, which are likely to create a favorable climate to move forward on the path of a political solution, Mr. Bourita pointed out at a joint press briefing with the Speaker of the Libyan House of Reresentatives, Aguila Salah, following a bilateral meeting.
Mr. Bourita underlined on this occasion the link between what is happening on the ground and the progress made in the ongoing political discussions, highlighting the positive dynamics recorded at all levels, both in terms of political dialogue, of the application of article 15 and of the ceasefire, “which is very encouraging”.Thanks to its format and approach, the Libyan Dialogue held in Bouznika was a “qualitative progress” as it brought together Libyans, far from any foreign interference, who decided for themselves on the composition of the delegations, the agenda and the rules of dialogue as well as its results, he said.The conclusions of this dialogue confirmed the conviction of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him, that Libyans are able to solve their problems on their own and that they enjoy a sense of patriotism and responsibility which can help them overcome all obstacles and achieve a solution to this crisis, Mr. Bourita pointed out.Morocco, he added, appreciates all the positions and initiatives undertaken by the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, which have created a positive dynamism in favor of the resolution of the crisis which has affected the Libyan people for years, his positive interaction, from the start, with the Libyan Dialogue hosted by Morocco in Bouznika, as the first meeting between the Libyan High Council of State and the Libyan House of Representatives having given positive results, as well as his full support and follow-up to the sessions of this dialogue as well as to its positive conclusions.
Mr. Bourita underlined that the visit to Morocco of the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives is part of the regular contact of Morocco with the Libyans, in accordance with the instructions of His Majesty the King, May God Assist Him, to listen to all Libyans and to provide unconditional support to anything that might push Libya towards a solution.
Morocco joins international coalition on women’s economic empowerment
Washington, (DNA), A coalition of 31 countries, including Morocco, launched Friday a Call to Action on Women’s Economic Empowerment around the world.Led by the United States, the initiative encourages countries to promote women’s economic empowerment and to remove legal barriers to their economic participation.
This call is an opportunity for coordinated action to ensure that women are empowered to lead the global response to COVID-19 and economic recovery.In remarks at the virtual launch ceremony of this initiative, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, said that Morocco “fully adheres” to the spirit of this initiative.
“This call to action will amplify the promotion of women’s rights, their prosperity and their contribution to peace and stability in the world,” Morocco’s Foreign Minister added.“Investing in gender equality is not an option. It is the only way to achieve sustainable development,” he stated during the event, which was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“Today, as we roll up our sleeves to fight the Covid pandemic, turn our economies around and strive to achieve the SDGs, let us ensure that women are empowered, that their voices are heard and that they participate fully in building our societies, our world and our future,” Mr. Bourita said.In addition to Morocco, the Core Group includes Afghanistan, Albania, Bhutan, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Estonia, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Marshall Islands, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Bomb ‘planted on motorcycle’ explodes in Quetta, injures many
QUETTA, Oct 25 (DNA): A bomb explosion left many people injured in
Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, which took place within
the vicinity of Shalkot police station on Sunday evening.
Police officials told media that the explosive material was planted on a
motorcycle while one vehicle and motorcycles parked at the scene caught
fire after the bomb explosion.
Heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies rushed to the incident’s
site and cordoned off the whole area. However, the number of casualties
is still unknown.
The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) had earlier issued a
security alert on October 22 that outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is
planning attacks on political and religious leaderships across Quetta
and Peshawar in the near future.
According to the alert issued by the counter-terrorism watchdog, TTP is
planning a terrorist attack on political and religious leaders of the
country in the two provincial capitals.
It is pertinent to mention here that the explosion rocked the Quetta
city when the opposition alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM),
organized a public gathering on Sunday at Ayub Stadium. DNA
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Opposition wants to see Pakistan on FATF blacklist: Murad Saeed
ISLAMABAD : Federal Minister for Postal Services and Communications, Murad Saeed on Sunday said that opposition parties want to see Pakistan on Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) blacklist.
Addressing a presser in Islamabad, Murad Saeed said that the opposition tried to get National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) when the government was doing legislation related to FATF laws.
Taking on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the minister said that the PML-N supreme leader is carrying out Indian narrative and his statements about Mumbai attacks and Dawn Leaks were presented as proofs in the international court.“India has done investment over Nawaz Sharif.”
Murad Saeed said the Kashmir issue was put on the backburner during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif. Modi was warmly welcomed in Raiwind when he was slaughtering Kashmiris, he added.
He said the anti-Pakistan narrative of Nawaz Sharif is getting full coverage in Indian media, which raises question that why India is giving so much coverage to him?
