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Parliamentary panel rejects anti-forced conversion bill amid protest by minorities’ lawmakers

danieldemol

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Pakistan:

'A parliamentary committee on Wednesday rejected the anti-forced conversion bill after the Ministry of Religious Affairs opposed the proposed law while lawmakers from minority communities protested the decision.

The bill came under discussion during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee to Protect Minorities from Forced Conversions, where Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri said the "environment is unfavourable" for formulating a law against forced conversions.'

Source: Parliamentary panel rejects anti-forced conversion bill amid protest by minorities’ lawmakers - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

Do you think the religious affairs minister was wrong to reject a law against forced conversions?

In my opinion.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
It's impossible to "force a religious conversion". All anyone could do would be to force feigned compliance to a religious ideology. And most methods of force are already illegal. As well as forced compliance among adults. So I doubt there was ever any need for such a bill.
 

Daemon Sophic

Avatar in flux
Pakistan:

'A parliamentary committee on Wednesday rejected the anti-forced conversion bill after the Ministry of Religious Affairs opposed the proposed law while lawmakers from minority communities protested the decision.

The bill came under discussion during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee to Protect Minorities from Forced Conversions, where Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri said the "environment is unfavourable" for formulating a law against forced conversions.'

Source: Parliamentary panel rejects anti-forced conversion bill amid protest by minorities’ lawmakers - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

Do you think the religious affairs minister was wrong to reject a law against forced conversions?

In my opinion.
So you’re asking if it’s OK that the Pakistani parliament say “Having the Muslim Inquisition in our country is peachy keen! Yay! Forced ‘Conversions!’”

My answer would be a sad and angry, No.

Theocracy is always a great way to kill and terrorize a population, destroy your government, make your population stupid and backwards, and start wars - both external and internal. :facepalm:
 

Windwalker

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Do you think the religious affairs minister was wrong to reject a law against forced conversions?
Politics. They are ostensibly worried to making a law against the practice by some, luring children with promises of money and marriage to convert to Islam, and then not giving them what was promised, might be seen as a "law against Islam". Basically, it's the same crap as here in the United States with the politicians pandering to the Christian right.

Even though their views and practices are primitive and obscene, people don't want to upset the base, as these right-wingers might get violent against minorities and make matters worse, like storm the Capitol. Or so the excuses to not take action and do what is right goes. It's just politics, and the public and the culture they are dealing with. Doesn't matter if it's the likes of the Taliban, or their American cousins Christian fundamentalists.

Forced prayer in school, reject modern science in education, deny marriage to homosexuals, etc. Force conversions, evil in the name of God, all the same premodern tribal stuff, regardless of the country. And then layering in politicians without spines. "Don't vote against this, or you'll be seen as a servant of the West!", and other such rationalizations to maintain oppression of minorities.
 
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sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
My first thought upon reading the thread title was this was about India forcing Christian converts to give up Christianity and return to Hinduism.

I'm also reminded of Zoroastrians fleeing Persia for India due to forced conversions there.

There is a very long and sordid history of forced conversions as Wikipedia documents and there's the force versions of Hindus opposing religiously mixed marriages which is a close cousin.

The world has had much too much of "my religion is right and all others are wrong so whatever I do is justified"
 

danieldemol

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
And most methods of force are already illegal. As well as forced compliance among adults. So I doubt there was ever any need for such a bill.
We are talking about Pakistan here, can you cite your sources that most methods of force in Pakistan are already illegal? And shouldn't *all* methods of force be illegal?
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Uh…Dude! Check which section you’re in. :D
That doesn't answer the question. Do you live in Pakistan? Does anyone here, live there? Why should we be concerned with what the Pakistanis decide about forced religious conversion? And keep in mind that it is not possible to force anyone to believe anything. So the real issue here is just the enforcement of religious pretense.

Though not written into or protected by law, there is a significant degree of this going on right here in the U.S. "bible belt". Where non-compliance with the majority religious ideology and practices can result in significant social-economic ostracism.
 

Daemon Sophic

Avatar in flux
That doesn't answer the question. Do you live in Pakistan? Does anyone here, live there? Why should we be concerned with what the Pakistanis decide about forced religious conversion? And keep in mind that it is not possible to force anyone to believe anything. So the real issue here is just the enforcement of religious pretense.

Though not written into or protected by law, there is a significant degree of this going on right here in the U.S. "bible belt". Where non-compliance with the majority religious ideology and practices can result in significant social-economic ostracism.
While I agree with you here and in your post #2 in this thread, it is simply the “Religious News” thread. As such, issues relating to religion, no matter the location throughout the world, are open for discussion in this thread.
Please keep in mind that many forum members are not now, or ever living inside the USA. Furthermore, some here may be concerned about, and/or be interested in events outside of the nations that we live in or come from. :shrug:
We in the US often need to be reminded that we are not the be all, end all of all things. ;) E.g. - Why should anybody be concerned about religious social pressures in the southern US?
 

PureX

Veteran Member
I guess some of us care about the mistreatment of decent human beings no matter where they had the misfortune of being born.

In my opinion.
Sure, but I think it would be more effective to care about them in your neighborhood. As opposed to the other side of the planet.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
It seems to me as though some of our limitations are self imposed.

In my opinion.
What do you suggest I do about Pakistanis choosing not to pass a law banning forced religious conversion, as a U. S. Citizen with absolutely no control over my own government?
 

Koldo

Outstanding Member
That doesn't answer the question. Do you live in Pakistan? Does anyone here, live there? Why should we be concerned with what the Pakistanis decide about forced religious conversion? And keep in mind that it is not possible to force anyone to believe anything. So the real issue here is just the enforcement of religious pretense.

Though not written into or protected by law, there is a significant degree of this going on right here in the U.S. "bible belt". Where non-compliance with the majority religious ideology and practices can result in significant social-economic ostracism.

Why not say you haven't noticed this was all about Pakistan?
It's alright, we all make mistakes. This post of yours came across as an attempt not to lose face, but it didn't work...
 

Koldo

Outstanding Member
Pakistan:

'A parliamentary committee on Wednesday rejected the anti-forced conversion bill after the Ministry of Religious Affairs opposed the proposed law while lawmakers from minority communities protested the decision.

The bill came under discussion during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee to Protect Minorities from Forced Conversions, where Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri said the "environment is unfavourable" for formulating a law against forced conversions.'

Source: Parliamentary panel rejects anti-forced conversion bill amid protest by minorities’ lawmakers - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

Do you think the religious affairs minister was wrong to reject a law against forced conversions?

In my opinion.

I confess I would be a bit worried about the draft bill, particularly this part:

"A copy of the draft bill, which is available with Dawn, shows that any non-Muslim, who is not a child, and is able and willing to convert to another religion will apply for a conversion certificate from an additional sessions judge of the area where he or she is residing.

The draft law highlights that the application will have to include the name of a non-Muslim who is willing to change the religion, age and gender, CNIC number, details of parents, siblings, children and spouse (if any), current religion and the reason to convert to the new religion."

It seems there would be a whole lot of interference in any conversion. Not something I would support per se.

Althought the latter part seems just fine:

"The proposed law also awards punishment between five to 10 years and a fine from Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 to any person who uses criminal force to convert a person to another religion."
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Why not say you haven't noticed this was all about Pakistan?
It's alright, we all make mistakes. This post of yours came across as an attempt not to lose face, but it didn't work...
I never pay attention to the thread headings. And my comment is my comment. I have no need to 'save face' because I don't really care about thread headings. I pretty much respond in the same way regardless. But I leave the thread to those interested.
 

Koldo

Outstanding Member
I never pay attention to the thread headings. And my comment is my comment. I have no need to 'save face' because I don't really care about thread headings. I pretty much respond in the same way regardless. But I leave the thread to those interested.

It is not in the heading though. It is in the very first line of the OP.
The talk about a Ministry of Religious Affairs, his name being Noorul Haq Qadri, the sourced link in itself specifically mentioning Pakistan (you wouldn't even have to click the link to read what this is all about)... Even if you didn't read the very first line, all of those should hint towards this topic having nothing to do with the USA.
 
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