As sad as it sounds, forced conversions and child marriages are not uncommon in countries like Pakistan. Earlier this month, news about Arzoo Masih – a Christian teenager who was kidnapped before being made to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim man – went viral on the internet. Following this, the Sindh High Court immediately instructed the police to find out about Arzoo’s whereabouts, demanding her to be shifted to a shelter home. Soon after, her husband Syed Ali Azhar was found and jailed. While many celebrities, social workers and social media users celebrated his arrest, a similar episode has now caught everyone’s attention. This week, a Hindu girl named Sonya was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam in Sindh’s Bharchundi Shareef district. Condemning both the incidents, here is what Twitter users have to say!
Glad both Sindh & Fed Govt want to pursue #JusticeForArzoo. There is a lot to learn from the injustices committed in this case first by the accused & then by our governance system. With both Govts on board hope this case will become ground for renewed focus on #ChildRights https://t.co/FX4s9MMwe8
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) November 2, 2020
Great news. Now let justice be served. https://t.co/XxPEfPK0Ws
— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) November 2, 2020
Lawyer and politician Jibran Nasir tweeted, “Glad both Sindh & Fed Govt want to pursue #JusticeForArzoo. There is a lot to learn from the injustices committed in this case first by the accused & then by our governance system. With both Govts on board hope this case will become ground for renewed focus on #ChildRights.” Echoing his sentiments, Osman Khalid Butt wrote, “Great news. Now let justice be served,” referring to Azhar’s arrest. Snubbing the child-bride culture in traditional societies, Sarwat Gilani shared an IGTV video on her Instagram handle. She shared, “It’s very sad that we are all just a party to this circus. We are all silent, even though we shouldn’t be. Maybe we are scared to raise our voices against the wrong but we shouldn’t be.” Singer Meesha Shafi posted on her Instagram story, writing, “This has been heart wrenching so far. Praying for Arzoo to be reunited with her parents.”
When the case of Arzoo Masih hasn't settled out yet, we hear about another forced conversion in Pakistan. A minor #HinduGirl, Sonia was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam, a few days ago, in Barchundi Sharif, Sindh, Pakistan. #StopConvertingMinorities #ShameOnPakistan pic.twitter.com/enIS9owlCS
— Simran Kaur (@SimranK60419840) November 5, 2020
Pakistan is a living hell for minorities…
The case of ArzooMasih hasn't settled out yet, we got to hear about another forced conversion.
A minor #Hindu girl, Sonia was abducted a few days ago and now she was forcibly converted to #Islam in #Sindh #Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/dJTAgKvVmM
— Ankita Singh (@ankitasinghx) November 4, 2020
The tragic case of #Christian girl Arzoo Masih forcefully converted hasn't settled out yet another minor girl, Sonia has been abducted and now she is also being forcibly converted to #Islam in Barchundi Sharif, Sindh, #Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/n8WnlwRLyk
— Anis Farooqui (@anis_farooqui) November 3, 2020
Through the power of social media, you all managed to put the right pressure on authorities. Arzoo Masih is going to go home soon and the culprit is in jails.
This is just one case and our fight shouldn’t end here.
Keep raising the voice! #JusticeForArzoo #banforcedconversions— Ali (@alirazaoff) November 2, 2020
RT: Thanks God ?#ArzooRaja #Arzoo #ArzooMasih has been sent to shelter home by Police. @priest_rebel @Alpha_57 @liftdupbyangels @blueshawk @palombo_rossana @NCRonline @acn_canada1 @AmandaACN_AED @ACNewman @21stcentury120 @HonnieBunnie007 @cchilds25 @PRAYN4YOU #Pakistan @leaih pic.twitter.com/374vR9K9hW
— #FreeNadeemSamson ? ( ???? ????? ) (@FreeNadeemSam) November 2, 2020
every minute #ArzooMasih/Raja is under the wing of her “husband” — who can legally rape her (a minor) — my heart bleeds & I feel suffocated. find a conscience & raise your voice for a 13 year old who was forcefully converted & married to a paedophile. please. my heart hurts.
— ??? (@zeynepshah) November 2, 2020
http://thebrownidentity.com/2020/11/05/us-presidential-race-mehwish-hayat-draws-parallels-with-pakistani-elections/
A user named Simran Kaur penned her thoughts on Sonya’s abduction. She wrote, “When the case of Arzoo Masih hasn’t settled out yet, we hear about another forced conversion in Pakistan. A minor #HinduGirl, Sonia was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam, a few days ago, in Bharchundi Shareef, Sindh, Pakistan. #StopConvertingMinorities#ShameOnPakistan.” Her post was re-tweeted by several Pakistani users on the micro-blogging site. “Pakistan is a living hell for minorities,” added a furious user. Lauding people for raising their voice against the unjust treatment of young girls in the country, one user shared, “Through the power of social media, you all managed to put the right pressure on authorities. Arzoo Masih is going to go home soon and the culprit is in jails. This is just one case and our fight shouldn’t end here. Keep raising the voice! #JusticeForArzoo#banforcedconversions.” Expressing sympathy for Arzoo, a post read, “Every minute #ArzooMasih/Raja is under the wing of her “husband” — who can legally rape her (a minor) — my heart bleeds & I feel suffocated. find a conscience & raise your voice for a 13-year-old who was forcefully converted & married to a pedophile. please. my heart hurts.” According to recent reports, Arzoo is in safe hands and is currently residing in a shelter home.