Pakistan: Imran Khan speaks out against anti-conversion bill, Christians outraged

“No one is calling for a law against Islam; our fight is against pedophiles using religion as a refuge for criminal activity. Exploitation of vulnerable minorities should not be equated with opposition to Islam. "

Pakistan is currently working on an anti-conversion bill. For minorities, it would be a question of fighting against the growing phenomenon of forced conversions to Islam. But this bill divides. By the end of September, the Pakistani Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony had already rejected the bill, claiming that "The proposed law in its current form clashes with Islamic Sharia law".

On September 27, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke on this bill. According to UCA News, he would then have said that his government would not promulgate any anti-Islamic law. However, he said, the government's bills on domestic violence and forced conversions contain provisions that are "in direct conflict with the teachings of Islam."

In Pakistan, these comments sparked outrage. On Facebook, the Lahore-based Christian NGO, the Cecil and Iris Chaudry Foundation, demanded justice for minority women.

"So, is it okay for women to be beaten and tortured, and it is also okay for non-Muslim underage girls to be forcibly converted to Islam?" The Prime Minister must understand that not all are Muslims in Pakistan. The state must protect the rights of religious minorities; effective legislation against forced conversions is essential. "

Father Camillien Mushtaq Anjum spoke to UCA News. He asserts that “no one is calling for a law against Islam”, but “against pedophiles using religion as a refuge for criminal activities”.

“No one is calling for a law against Islam; our fight is against pedophiles using religion as a refuge for criminal activity. Exploitation of vulnerable minorities should not be equated with opposition to Islam. "

MC

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