Malalai Yusafzai, the brilliant Pakistani girl who defied Taliban's dictation and stood firm on getting educated and persuaded her peers to do so, is a face of Pakistan that we all want to see. More and more. With pride and denial. We like to see Malalai in denial of Rinkle. Rinkle Kumari, the 19 years old Sindhi Hindu girl who was kidnapped and allegedly forcibly converted to Islam before coercively marrying her to a Muslim Naveed Shah. The ones who show this uncomfortable face of Pakistan are condemned to be the 'traitors' and 'Pakistan-haters'. If trying to correct these painful imperfections of our society is treason, let me commit it for once. Rinkle's story needs to be told loudly and to everyone.

Rinkle was kidnapped on February 24 by Naveed Shah and four other people. Police refused to lodge an FIR and to include the names of the influential Mian Aslam, Mian Rafique and their father Mian Mithu. She was produced in the court of Civil Judge Ghotki where she insisted on going to her family but the judge illegally sent her to the police custody in Sukkur Women's Police Station.

In sheer mockery of the President of Pakistan and his party Co-Chairperson, Mithu announced in front of many civil society activists that if Rinkle's custody is snatched from him, he will set Mirpur Mathelo ablaze. The president had given a media statement against forced conversions earlier that day. "Come what may, justice will have to prevail" was the answer in a firm strong voice when I asked Raj Kumar, Rinkle's uncle, if he was scared. Probably this resolve has come from years of persecution and injustice. "It has been decades that Hindu girls have been abducted and forcibly converted. We hear little or no voice at all against this oppression," said Amar Lal, counsel to Rinkle Kumari's family.

Notwithstanding the support that media and civil society demonstrated for Rinkle, the state response remains an enigma. The Chief Justice of Supreme Court opened a long pending constitutional petition against forced conversions, filed in 2007 by Pakistan Hindu Council, and contained the names of three relatively recent cases of forced conversions including Rinkle Kumari. It was this intervention that finally infused courage in Rinkle Kumari, who spoke her heart to the CJ in camera on March 26, following which he announced in presence of national and international media that Rinkle wanted to go to her mother while Lata was double minded. He ascertained that the girls seemed to be under serious pressure, were continuously crying, were refusing to go with police. In such circumstances, honourable Chief Justice opined that before recording any free-will statement, they should be provided free atmosphere. He ordered to shift her to Panah, the shelter home run by Justice (R) Majida Razvi in Karachi. As soon as he made this announcement, Rinkle screamed in front of media that she wanted to go to her mother.

After the CJ passed orders to shift her to the shelter house, Rinkle started crying and screaming in the court, as reported by KTN TV channel, that she wanted to go to her mother. She also shrieked ear-piercingly that she will not go to the shelter house and would rather like to sleep in the court. It was heart rending to hear her say in the court that she doubted if she could get any justice in a system where majority is Muslim and wanted to make her Muslim forcibly, which is why she thought they were helping each other, not her. Prior to this hearing, every event that happened under this case screamed at the loudest, sheer weakness of the system of justice, moral bankruptcy in our institutions, our collective hypocrisy and helplessness of the highest state authorities to reign in the rogue elements of the society.

Hindu community was completely banished from attending court proceedings in Mirpur Mathelo, the other party, however, did not have any such pressure. While only four family members of Rinkle Kumari were allowed in the premises and only two in the courtroom, thousands of Mithu's men chanted slogans outside the court and hundreds were present inside the court. An open display of weapons was a clear message to the court and judges, who could not ask any of the weapon-wielding Allah-o-Akbar chanting beards out of the court. Under these circumstances, when Rinkle was still in police custody, god knows how she managed to organize a press conference among, of course, Mian Mithu's men and with a Bluetooth mobile device stuck in her right ear. West is bad for conspiring against Islam, but Western technology is apparently good for Islam's spread!

When she was being dictated via blue tooth, Rinkle tried hard to satisfy questioning journalists and forgot what inspired her to embrace Islam. 'Sura Eeklus', she tried to pronounce Sura Ikhlaas twice, unsuccessfully though. When asked about the meaning or gist of the contents of Sura Ikhlas, she was dumbstuck and was forcibly taken out by Mithu's son. Yes, you read it right. While in Police custody, she was under complete control of Mithu's men. Media also learned in this press conference that Rinkle actually does not even know Naveed Shah, who she was married to hours after abduction. At 5am she was abducted from her home on February 24, at 3pm the same day she was married. Honourable Court might ask Mithu what made him make this important decision of the life of an independent woman, even if she had embraced Islam, in such a hurry?

One is flabbergasted to see so many of us not asking some basic but direct questions. Who is Mian Mithu? What is his interest for pursuing this case? He is neither Sajjada Nasheen of Bharchundi Shareef, as had been wrongly reported by some section of media initially, nor he is remotely related to Naveed Shah, with whom Rinkle allegedly eloped and embraced Islam. The Sajjada Nasheen (caretaker) of the Bharchundi Shareef dargah, Mian Abdul Khaliq, who happens to be Mian Mithu's nephew has categorically condemned what Mithu has done under the garb of Islam. Not only him, Sajjada Nasheens of many other Dargahs (shrines) have joined in condemning Mithu's actions, including Dargah Shah Latif, Dargah Jhok Sharif, Dargah Sachal Sayeen and Jot Jalan (the man who lights the candle / diya at the shrine) of Dargah Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. Even the Council of Islamic Ideology's Maulana Shirani has categorically said that forcible conversion is no conversion, is rather a sin.

On April 10, Mian Mithu along with many of his supporters, held a seminar in an expensive hotel in Islamabad. In the seminar, Mithu is reported to have threatened the Supreme Court that if it gives judgment against him, he will not follow the apex court, but will follow the shariah - his own version thereof. When reminded about the President, who is head of the party Mithu belongs to, Mithu was reported to be quick to disdainfully say, "I will see the president. No one dares challenge me". After threats from Mithu and firing by his men on Manohar Lal, Rinkle's grandfather, the whole family had to leave Mirpur Mathelo and shift to Karachi. Three top men from Hindu community of District Ghotki are pointedly under Mithu's threat, renowned human rights activist Mr Amar Lal, saint Sadh Ram, Rinkle's uncle Mr Raj Kumar. No one seems to have any control on the power of this unrestrained self proclaimed clergyman.

The important question that the Superior Court has is, what will Rinkle's family, Hindu community of District Ghotki and especially these three respectable men would do if Rinkle is allowed to join her family after the upcoming hearing on 18th March? Who will provide security to them? Is the rotten and visibly tilted structure of state institutions to be trusted by the down trodden? Is the Superior Court empowered enough to provide justice and security to Hindu community of Ghotki? If not, who will? This case poses biggest challenge to the Superior Court in its entire history. The Hindu community, in this case, represents the most down trodden sections of the society, which came out on streets in 2007 in the hope of an independent justice system. This justice system includes law enforcing agencies and lower courts. Even if Rinkle goes back to her family, an independent judicial enquiry on the role of Ghotki Police and Civil Judges should be instituted and criminal record of Mian Mithu and his sons should be produced in the court. The question arises why in last six months, kidnapping of Hindu girls, forced conversions and abduction of Hindu and Christian youngsters and saints is increased? "They want us to leave the country. They are forcing us to flee from our motherland. But we will not deter," said Amar Lal, Rinkle's counsel.

It is sheer mockery of judiciary when the powerful uses its system to oppress the powerless, that too, with impunity. Mithu mocked not only the law but the honourable court as well, when he sent his armed men to the court premises. He ridiculed police and all law-enforcing mechanism when he fetched Rinkle in his private car and arranged her press conference when she was in police custody. He belittled the parliament when being a part of it he violated law of land. He scorned the head of the state when he said he "will see the President". Will any of these pillars of the state respond with iron will?

Comments (16 comments)

jst dnt knw dat wt 2 say???my eyes r wet..1st rinkle is pakistani dan she is hindu..i urge to all pakistani muslims to respect der minorities..it is shame 4 u all as a country dat minorities r escaping to other countries..love humanity dan love ur country n dan follow ur relegion..if every1 in world will think like dis dan der wil peace n progress..thanx 2 marvi mam,najam sir,hasan nissar sir,pervez hoodbhoy sir...may allah blesses pakistan..

Posted: Monday, October 15, 2012 by ricky singh from patna

Having been disturbed by the incidence, I kept reading all relevant news pieces. It appears that Marve is largely irrational. Surely, Pakistan's administration may be, and probably is, biased or incompetent here and there but to suggest that the entire system from low level police, local and intermediate courts to the highest court and upper level police administration are out and out biased and incompetent is outright nonsense. There have been conflicting accounts coming in the media and a lot of the facts are shrouded in mystery. The fundamental problem with Rinkle's parent's allegation of kidnapping is lack of fact and consistency in their account. They simply could not find their daughter one morning and came up with the allegation of kidnapping after discovering where she was. They gave conflicting accounts of her kidnapping scenario, e.g., while on her way to bathroom to chloroforming though they did not see or sense anything. How was it possible that Rinkle was abducted from her home without any break in or anyone knowing it? Similar conflicting accounts exist on what she told in the district courts depending on who you hear from. It looks like Rinkle made an impulsive decision to leave her home without probably realizing the degree of its seriousness but was eventually torn between her parents, given the good daughter she was, and the newlywed husband. Nevertheless, the actual 100% fact will never be known until someone talks to her. It is the involvement of the Dargah people and their rude and brutal opposition to any reconciliation with her parents that made things extremely suspicious. Dargah guys probably feared that her parents will influence her and turn her around but they alone and Allah knows best why they did what they did.

Posted: Thursday, September 27, 2012 by Parvez from Toronto, Canada

I came to know of Ms. Marvi a few days ago while she was on Indian television. Like all Hindus of India and Pakistan,I am deeply hurt by the current plight of minorities in Pakistan. Case of Ms Rinkel Kumari has disturbed me a lot. I cannot imagine how parents of Rinkel and Rinkel herself are coping with this pain. From this case and other attracities, we in Amecica can conclude that there is no security and justice for the minorities in Pakistan. Ms. Marvi is very forceful in reporting and her command of English is simply superb. I appreciate and admire her courage.

Posted: Saturday, August 18, 2012 by Swamy Basim from New Britain CT USA

i wish the girl gets her piece of justice. But that wont be 2 easy.but reading the article and comments, its gud to know that there r many people in pakistan who care for other religions too. I m sad that sitting in india , i cant do anything for her

Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 by rajat from india

What a shame.

Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 by Tarun from India

i am not against teh education of women...however if we allow malalai the independence to decide her future than we should allow rinkle too...i think we go to teh opposites in such matters...

Posted: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 by Khawaja Ikram Ul haq from Rawalpindi

hats off to you marvi.proud of you.it feels that still there is a source that radiates light beyond any difference,whether ethnic or religious .when governor salman taseer was murdered by his mentally ill, ineligible security guard .the most painful thing then was how youth of punjab and karachi started making pages of killer as a hero of muslim umah...! i really couldn't judge at that time whom to blame? youth has been brainwashed for extremism,and it's quite terrible message for our future here.we all have to fight this war,and yes this is our own war now. hats off to all the people in sindh who have stood by ,rejected state infused version of terrorism and religion. there is need toraise voice collectively,for terrorism and extremism forgives none.thanks for writing,,keep it up..you are an inspiration..keep writing for all .

Posted: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 by sindhipoliticalworker from sindh

very nice article , and i like it

Posted: Monday, April 16, 2012 by vinod valasai from hyderabad sindh

In the USA, diverse human rights activists have spoken out on this issue: http://www.realcourage.org/2012/04/pakistan-rights-for-all/ http://youtu.be/2yd3bajwls4

Posted: Sunday, April 15, 2012 by Jeffrey Imm from Washington DC

just extraordinay. on behalf of whole hindu iam extremely thankful t great marvi sb for supporting the victimized class of pakistan

Posted: Sunday, April 15, 2012 by dr rakesh from islamabad

Barbaric,unhumanize and most uncivlized & shamefull act

Posted: Saturday, April 14, 2012 by Fail State from anywhere but not from jungle pakistan

what ever u write marvi very true . my community so much depressed and majority are migration to india.

Posted: Saturday, April 14, 2012 by Dr Raj batra from sukkur

Very important questions raised by Marvi Sirmed. Though, i was not a fan of her earlier....but now i truly respect Marvi for her role in Human Rights and Rights of Minorities.

Posted: Saturday, April 14, 2012 by abdul from pakistan

Very well explored!! Nice written article!

Posted: Saturday, April 14, 2012 by Shankar Das from Karachi

It is a heart rending tale of gross injustice and criminality. It should make every Pakistani feel ashamed of his government, his country and his religion. Probably, supporters of justice and human rights world wide have gone on vacation. Perhaps there still is hope, however tiny, so long as there are newspapers like the Friday Times, and its fair-minded editor. Thank God for that.

Posted: Friday, April 13, 2012 by Jamal Ahmed from New Delhi

The courts of Pakistan, as well as our independent judges, are consciously avoiding the fundamental issues disturbing the social fabric of society. They are interested in only those cases where the brethren judges gain attention and popularity in the media. Where is the trial of Mumtaz Qadri ? The court is in deep slumber or intentionally not willing to take a decision to avoid the criticism of media and right winger. The ZAB reference case, where judges collaborated with generals, has thrown in shelves. The same fate is waiting for the poor Rinkle Kumari.

Posted: Friday, April 13, 2012 by Khadim from Islamabad