Call for Legislative Amendment to Address Legal Gaps in Cases of Religious Conversion: Sindh Human Rights Commission writes to Sindh Government
Imran
Karachi
The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has recommended the Sindh Government for legislative amendment in Sindh Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2018, to address the absence of a clear procedure for dissolution of marriage in the event of conversion to another religion.
In a formal communication to the Law, Parliamentary Affairs, and Criminal Prosecution Department, Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani, Member Sindh Human Rights Commission, has urged the department to address a legal gap that risks misuse of religious conversion as a tool of coercion or exploitation.
In the letter, the Commission has referred to High Court of Sindh (Circuit Court Hyderabad) order (dated 30-09-2022 in Cr. Misc. Application No. S-177/2022), in which, the Honourable court observed that “while the ground for termination has been legislated, no comprehensive procedure has been set out to regulate dissolution of marriage in such cases — including the process of petitioning, the role of Family Courts, observance of Iddat, and the right of either spouse to accept or refuse the new religion of the other for continuation of marriage.”
SHRC has recommended that the Law Department may place this matter before the worthy Provincial Cabinet/Assembly for enactment of necessary legislation/amendment for setting out a comprehensive procedure for dissolution of marriage in, but not limited to, section 11 (iii) of the Sindh Hindus Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2018.
“By legislating a clear process, Sindh will further strengthen its resolve to minority rights, rule of law, and constitutional protections for all its citizens,” SHRC emphasized.
