Social media users are criticising the Islamabad Bar Association for inviting controversial Muslim cleric Mian Abdul Haq, popularly known as ‘Mian Mithu’ — who is notorious for his alleged involvement in forcibly converting Hindu girls in Sindh to Islam — to speak at a seminar on the issue of forced conversions.
Mian Abdul Haq is also a former member National Assembly and an influential figure in Sindh’s Ghotki district. The pir is notorious in upper Sindh for his alleged involvement in the forced conversion and marriages of minor Hindu girls.
The forced conversion of underage Hindu girls to Islam in Sindh is a severe issue. Human rights groups have continuously urged the government authorities to introduce laws regarding forced conversations.
A social media user condemned the Islamabad Bar Association for inviting Mian Abdul Haq and said: “Those who are facing forced conversions aren’t invited to the seminar, but someone who’s directly involved in forced conversions is invited to speak on the same topic by the Islamabad Bar Association.”
Those who are facing forced conversions aren’t invited to the seminar, but someone who’s directly involved in forced conversions is invited to speak on the same topic by the Islamabad Bar Association.#forcedconversion #ForcedMarriage #islamabad_bar_association pic.twitter.com/BlBmNyQd2R
— Sahil Agrani (@agrani_sahil07) February 24, 2023
Lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir said the invitation to Mian Mithu is “incredibly disrespectful to victims of forced conversions”.
Sad that Islamabad Bar Association couldnt invite any experts on the issue, particularly women & girls from minority communities since they are the primary targets of forced conversions.Inviting Mian Mithu on this topic is incredibly disrespectful to victims of forced conversions https://t.co/W8A7cUZykm
— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) February 24, 2023
Another social media user said: “Mian Mithu is the patron saint of bigotry and forced conversions in Sindh. Quite terrible the Islamabad Bar Association is inviting him.”
Mian Mithu is the patron saint of bigotry and forced conversions in Sindh. Quite terrible the Islamabad Bar Association is inviting him. https://t.co/CGxfWXPt4I
— Salahuddin Ahmed (@SalAhmedPK) February 24, 2023
“This can only happen in Pakistan. Someone directly involved in Forced conversions is invited to talk on the same topic by none other than Islamabad Bar Association. Amazing.”
This can only happen in Pakistan. Someone directly involved in Forced conversions is invited to talk on the same topic by none other than Islamabad Bar Association. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/BmlCbVGJSG
— Ehtesham Hassan (@Ehteysham1) February 24, 2023
