In this episode of 'Armpit Intellectuals,' we delve into the critical issue of forced conversions in Pakistan, with a focus on young women from the Hindu community in Sindh.
Highlighting the annual abduction and coercion of around 1000 girls, the podcast sheds light on the systemic violence and discrimination facilitated by religious and political entities.
Discussing real-life cases such as Neha, Mehek Kumari, Arzoo Raja, and Rinkle Kumari, we attempt to emphasize the failures of the Pakistani legal system and the societal pressures that perpetuate these atrocities.
Amidst international condemnation and calls for protective measures, the episode underscores the need for legislative changes and societal shifts to safeguard religious minorities in Pakistan.
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Audio clips from the ethnographic documentary film Thrust Into Heaven (2016) by Jürgen Schaflechner.
Clip #1: Kalpana Devi, a human rights lawyer and activist from Larkana, Sindh, speaking on the double oppression that exists within the Hindu community itself.
Clip #2: Mithal Khan, a family friend of Chandavati, speaks against the human rights issue occurring in his indigenous homeland.
Clip #3: Mian Mithu, the religious cleric who is responsible for numerous forced conversions in Ghotki, Sindh.
Ep.9: The 'Squeezed' White Part: Forced Conversions in Pakistan