Convert or suffer: Pakistan's Christian and Hindu children trapped in forced conversions and child labour rings
According to Christian Daily International, the report points to "severe challenges" faced by religious minority children, which are not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing nationwide pattern of marginalisation and abuse. Forced conversions, child marriages, and child labour, particularly in bonded conditions, remain a daily reality for thousands of Christian and Hindu children.
Productivity Tool
Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide
By Metla Sudha Sekhar
View Program
Finance
Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory
By Dinesh Nagpal
View Program
Finance
Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code
By CA Rahul Gupta
View Program
Digital Marketing
Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel
By Neil Patel
View Program
Finance
Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading
By Kunal Patel
View Program
Productivity Tool
Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide
By Study at home
View Program
Artificial Intelligence
AI For Business Professionals Batch 2
By Ansh Mehra
View Program
Among the most horrifying revelations in the NCRC's findings, highlighted by Christian Daily International, is the continued practice of abducting underage girls from minority communities and forcibly converting and marrying them to older Muslim men. The report explicitly states that "few legal options" exist for victims due to institutional bias, lack of law enforcement, and overwhelming public pressure. This is not a legal gray area; it is a human rights catastrophe.
From April 2023 to December 2024, the NCRC received 27 official complaints involving cases of murder, abduction, forced religious conversion, and underage marriage, all targeting minority children. And these are merely the reported cases. Real numbers are feared to be significantly higher, as families often remain silent out of fear of retaliation or further victimisation by authorities.
Christian Daily International notes that the situation is most dire in Punjab, the country's most populous province, where 40% of the total reported violence against minority children occurred between January 2022 and September 2024. Police data cited by the report reveals that 547 Christians, 32 Hindus, two Ahmadis, and two Sikhs were among the victims, along with 99 others.
Live Events
The educational system, rather than offering a path to escape, only reinforces the exclusion of religious minorities. The NCRC report slams the Single National Curriculum for its "absence of religious inclusion," forcing Christian and Hindu students to study Islamic content that contradicts their faith. Christian Daily International further highlights how this negatively affects their GPA and academic progress, creating a culture of failure and alienation.
Worse still, minority students face social discrimination within schools. According to the report, both teachers and classmates often ridicule or isolate children once their religious identity is known. As per testimonies collected in the report and shared by Christian Daily International, children from oppressed caste and minority backgrounds are hesitant to sit at the front of classrooms, ask questions, or even drink water from shared glasses. They are mocked for their beliefs and told to convert to Islam to receive "divine rewards."
The findings expose the brutal truth: Pakistan's minority children are not just being left behind; they are being deliberately sidelined and systemically abused.
The report also draws attention to bonded labour, with Christian and Hindu children often trapped in the vicious cycle of forced work at brick kilns or in agriculture. Their families, already burdened by intergenerational poverty and discrimination, are offered little to no protection by the state.
Christian Daily International underscores the NCRC's strong call for immediate reforms: legal protections against forced conversion and child marriage, inclusive education policies, and enforcement of child labour laws. However, as NCRC Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq acknowledged, progress has been dismal due to "fragmented efforts, lack of coordination, and limited political will."
Pirbhu Lal Satyani, the NCRC's representative for minority rights in Sindh, told Christian Daily International that the report was a comprehensive effort to map the many layers of vulnerability minority children face. He described these children as "the most marginalised," facing "stigma, stereotyping, and structural exclusion."
The NCRC's findings are a national shame, but the international community, including watchdogs and religious rights groups, should see them as a call to action. Pakistan has long presented itself as a nation of religious tolerance. But as this government-backed report now confirms, that narrative crumbles when confronted with the reality faced by Christian and Hindu children.
Pakistan can no longer claim ignorance or denial. Its institutions have documented the crisis. The question is: will it act, or continue to be complicit?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
18 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Fatehpur mausoleum vandalism sparks ruckus in U.P. Assembly
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) witnessed uproar over an incident in Fatehpur where members of Hindu organisations, including the Bajrang Dal, on Monday (August 11, 2025) attempted to offer prayers inside an old mausoleum, barging into the premises and allegedly vandalising parts of the structure with sticks. The groups that entered the mausoleum on Monday claim that it was built after razing a temple. During Zero Hour, Opposition MLAs, primarily from the Samajwadi Party (SP), demanded a debate on the incident, alleging that the ruling dispensation and its affiliates had conspired to 'disturb' communal harmony in the State. They sought accountability and strict action against the accused, claiming that local BJP leaders had incited the crowd to take over the shrine. Amid the ruckus, the U.P. government informed the House that an FIR had been registered and legal action would be taken as per the rules. Opposition members, however, accused the government of attempting to shield the culprits and raised slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration. 'Nefarious design' 'In Fatehpur, the ruling party's people supported the attackers. It seems a coordinated and nefarious design to create division on communal lines, with the claim that the mausoleum belonged to Hindus. The government is trying to disturb communal harmony,' said Mata Prasad Pandey, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. Outside the House, political temperatures rose further. SP president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the incident in Fatehpur is a sign of the 'fast-decaying BJP'. 'Whenever the BJP and its allies' lies are exposed, a conspiracy is hatched to spoil harmony. The public now understands this trick and will neither fall for nor be misled by such acts. It remains to be seen whether the culprits will be identified by the drones of Lucknow or the drones of Delhi,' Mr. Yadav said. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati urged the government to ensure that no community is allowed to take steps that could create communal tension or harm mutual brotherhood. 'In the ongoing dispute over the existence of a mausoleum and a temple in Fatehpur district, the government must take this matter seriously and act strictly if required,' she wrote on X.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu's history of political silence on murders driven by caste hatred
Two weeks ago in Tirunelveli, Kavin Selvaganesh — a Scheduled Caste youth and employee at a leading IT firm — was brutally murdered by the brother of a caste Hindu girl he was in love with. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who readily condemned the arrest of Kerala nuns in distant Chhattisgarh, has not yet spoken on this gory crime driven by caste hatred. Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who visited the family of Ajithkumar, a security guard killed in illegal police custody, has not met Kavin's family — he merely condemned the Stalin government for the 'honour' crime. Actor Vijay, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam founder and Chief Minister aspirant, who met protesting conservancy workers in Chennai, has maintained silence on the murder. Such studied silence by politicians is not new. While voters from socially marginalised communities are wooed, they are often used as political doormats. On the other hand, political parties display little hesitation in assiduously cultivating the dominant communities belonging to the Backward and Most Backward Classes. Although leaders such as former Chief Ministers M. Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa had endeared themselves to all communities, they too were reluctant to stick their necks out and speak out against killing in the name of caste pride. Karunanidhi, personally, transcended caste barriers by performing several inter-caste weddings in his own extended family. On the electoral battlefield, Jayalalithaa had resorted to social re-engineering tactics like fielding Scheduled Caste candidates from general constituencies and getting them elected. Yet, the two leaders did not react in July 2003, when a young couple, Kannagi (a Vanniyar woman) and Murugesan (Scheduled Caste), were force-fed poison and set ablaze in front of a large gathering of villagers in Vriddhachalam in Cuddalore district. The murder itself came to light several days later when the Dalit Panthers of India (now Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) raised a red flag. This was the first time the term 'honour killing' was used in Tamil Nadu to describe a crime driven by caste hatred. 'If you thought, since Murugesan and Kannagi were killed openly in front of villagers, there would not have been any complication in delivery of justice, you are wrong,' writes senior journalist Ilangovan Rajasekaran, in the chapter 'Naththai Vegathil Neethi' (Justice at Snail's Pace) in his book 'Saathiyin Peyaraal – Aanava Kolaigalin Pathivu' (In the name of Caste – A Record of Honour Killings). It took 18 years for the trial court to deliver its verdict in the case and another four years for the Supreme Court to uphold justice. A factor that restricts political response is that in the party's districts units, the leadership is often vested in the hands of leaders hailing from the dominant caste groups of the region. Even during election campaigns, it is common for mainstream parties to use Scheduled Caste leaders of allied parties canvass for votes only in the habitats of the marginalised sections. They are requested to stay off the streets of caste Hindus, fearing the latter would resent the presence of a Scheduled Caste leader. Another disturbing feature is that of mainstream parties courting political outfits formed in the name of emancipating their community but actually promote caste pride. There are, however, rare occasions where leaders have vocally expressed themselves against caste killings. For instance in November 2018, Mr. Stalin, who had taken over as DMK president just three months earlier, exhorted his party cadre to work towards eliminating caste-based discrimination and atrocities and ensure that social justice prevailed in Tamil Nadu as envisioned by the Justice Party. Pointing out that social justice was at the forefront of the Dravidian Movement, he wrote: 'But it is now being challenged by the growing number of caste murders in the State. The killing of young couples in the name of caste pride is equivalent to destroying ourselves.' Citing the murder of an inter-caste couple in Krishnagiri, he said, 'Tamil Nadu is a State which prides itself on goodwill and being peaceful. It is unacceptable that the number of people who are blood-thirsty in the name of caste is increasing; this should not be allowed.' However, that was when the DMK was in Opposition benches. Though Mr. Stalin had assured that once his party formed the government, 'we will take all steps to prevent such caste killings and take strict legal action against such killings,' nothing much has changed on the ground in the last four years since he became Chief Minister. DMK sympathisers, however, cite 'grassroot realities' to defend Mr. Stalin's current measured silence. 'Ahead of the last Assembly elections, the DMK in its manifesto promised to renew an existing scheme to encourage inter-caste marriages — where the bride or groom is a Scheduled Caste — and enhance the financial support for the beneficiaries. However, parties in the opposite camp had whipped up a campaign saying the DMK was giving incentives to Scheduled Caste youth to lure girls from other communities. One BJP supporter, who was followed on X by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, warned: 'This is going to incite caste clashes in TN instead of healing the wounds.' The DMK had to move the Election Commission against such deliberately misleading campaign, said a party sympathiser. But is that reason enough to remain silent in the face of murder? That is a question mainstream leaders — and aspiring Chief Ministers — must seriously ask themselves. Until then, the silence will continue to speak louder than words.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Saffron flags atop 200-yr-old mausoleum: No arrest made in UP's Fatehpur so far
1 2 Prayagraj: The entire Abunagar and adjoining areas under the limits of Kotwali Nagar police station in Fatehpur district were on Tuesday turned into a fortress after Monday's incident wherein members of Hindu organisations allegedly entered the Eidgah premises and hoisted saffron flags atop a 200-year-old mausoleum on the campus, claiming that it was raised at the site of a temple. However, no arrest was made till Tuesday evening. Police had on Monday lodged an FIR against 10 named individuals and 150 unknown persons for disturbing peace. Those named in the FIR included Abhishek Shukla, Dharmendra, Ashish Trivedi, Pappu Singh, Prasoon, Ritik Pal, Vinay Tiwari, Pushpraj Patel, Ajay Singh, and Devnath Dhakre. Kotwali Nagar police station inspector Tarkeshwar Rai told TOI that the situation remained peaceful throughout Tuesday. He further added that cops maintained a strict watch in the areas and adequate forces were deployed at various locations accordingly. Apart from senior officials camping and maintaining strict vigilance, cops on Tuesday carried out patrolling in Abunagar and adjoining areas to maintain law and order. No one was allowed to move towards the disputed site. The local administration and police appealed to citizens to maintain peace in the area. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Best Method for a Flat Stomach After 50 (It's Genius!) Lulutox Undo The incident occurred on Monday morning despite the police bandobast, sparking outrage among members of the local Muslim community and leading to a tussle between the two opposing camps. While there were claims that members of the Hindu Mahasabha and other saffron groups damaged a part of a tomb near the mausoleum, the district administration denied any vandalism. Following the incident, an FIR against 10 named and 150 unidentified individuals was registered under sections 190, 191(2), 191(3), 301, 196 of the BNS Act, 07 of the CLA Act, and sections 2/3 of the Public Property Damage Prevention Act for forcibly entering and vandalising a disputed mausoleum site. Police claimed to have formed special teams to apprehend the people named in the FIR, but no arrest was made on Tuesday. Since last week, adequate police forces were deployed on the Eidgah campus after members of an organisation named Math Mandir Sangharsh Samiti submitted a memorandum to the Fatehpur district authorities claiming that the mausoleum of Nawab Abdul Samad was constructed at the site of the Thakurji temple. On Monday, scores of Hindu activists reached the spot unexpectedly, briefly overwhelming the police. Police resorted to lathicharge and summoned reinforcements from 10 police stations to contain the rampaging crowd after the members of the Hindu group outnumbered the cops present on the Eidgah campus and hoisted saffron flags atop the structure. Soon after the incident, senior cops reached the scene, conducted a flag march, and deployed additional SPs from five districts. The saffron flags were later removed, and both communities were urged to maintain peace. Three companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary, officers from headquarters, and additional staff from the zone were deployed at the site, which remained under round-the-clock vigil. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
