Pakistan, Hindu Families asked to pay US$35,000 to get back abducted children converted to Islam

On June 20, 2025, a court in Shahdadpur, Sindh, Pakistan ruled that two Hindu families must pay US$35,000 each to regain custody of their abducted children, Dashina Bai (15) and Harjeet Kumar (13), who were allegedly forcibly converted to Islam. The children were taken at gunpoint from a computer center and later appeared at a religious facility in Karachi, claiming voluntary conversion. Despite their minor status, the court imposed the hefty bond to prevent “coercion” back to Hinduism and mandated that they be allowed to practice Islam freely. The ruling sparked outrage, especially as the main accused, teacher Farhan Khaskheli, was released. Families and activists condemned the decision as discriminatory and emblematic of systemic religious persecution against minorities in Pakistan. The case highlights ongoing concerns over forced conversions, particularly of Hindu and Christian girls in Sindh, with rights groups estimating over 1,000 such incidents annually.

Source: https://hindupost.in/world/pakistan/pakistan-hindu-families-asked-to-pay-us35000-to-get-back-abducted-children-converted-to-islam/#