A Comparative Analysis of Forced Conversions among Minorities in Pakistan and India
Abstract
This study investigates the complex phenomenon of forced religious conversions of minorities in Pakistan and India, with a focus on gender, legal frameworks, political manipulation, and socio-religious dynamics. Drawing on a comparative analysis of over 40 scholarly articles, legal documents, media reports, and NGO publications between 2015 and 2025, this paper reveals that forced conversions disproportionately target minority women—particularly adolescent Hindu and Christian girls in Pakistan, and Muslim men or interfaith couples in India. In Pakistan, the lack of specific legislation criminalizing forced conversions, combined with weak enforcement of child protection laws and religiously influenced judicial decisions, contributes to the alarming rise in such cases. Girls are often abducted, coerced into marriage, and converted under duress, with courts frequently legitimizing these acts. In contrast, India’s anti-conversion laws, while framed to prevent coercion, are frequently used to suppress consensual interfaith relationships and reinforce Hindu nationalist agendas, thereby infringing on religious freedom. This research adopts a qualitative case study methodology, employing thematic content analysis to identify patterns of systemic complicity, legal failure, and gender-based violence. The study applies a human rights-based theoretical framework, highlighting how state institutions often facilitate or ignore these violations under socio-political pressures. The paper concludes that while the underlying mechanisms of coercion differ in each country, both demonstrate a convergence in terms of patriarchal control, minority suppression, and legal loopholes. The recommendations include legal reforms, judicial training, protection mechanisms for women, and international oversight to ensure adherence to universal human rights standards. Addressing these issues is critical not only for religious minorities but for the broader protection of civil liberties in South Asia.
Keywords: Forced Conversions, Religious Minorities, Gender-Based Violence, Pakistan, India, Interfaith Marriage, Legal Reform, Human Rights
