Sikh girl from Nankana Sahib tells LHC she married Muslim man by choice
Brother of Sikh girl claims his sister is not of age to marry or convert to Islam
January 10, 2020
LAHORE: A young Sikh woman from Nankana Sahib in Punjab on Thursday said that she had married a Muslim man of her own free will and converted to Islam for him, reported The News.
Jagjeet Kaur, while appearing in the hearing of a case related to her conversion and marriage at the Lahore High Court, said in the courtroom that she had married Muhammad Hassaan and wished to stay with him.
Kaur had been brought to the court from Darul Aman under strict security arrangements to attend hearing of a petition by her brother seeking determination of her age.
The petitioner claimed that his sister was not of age to take decisions about her marriage or religious conversion of her own accord. Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi also allowed petitioner Manmohan Singh to have a meeting with his sister in the court.
After the meeting, Kaur told the court that her brother tried to persuade her to go back home but she did not want to go with him. The girl was given the name of Ayesha after her conversion.
Singh claimed that his sister was under pressure and needed to be given more time to make a final decision. The investigating officer in the case also asked the court to adjourn proceedings in light of the law and order situation in the area.
Also read: Protesters in Nankana Sahib disperse after assurance of justice
Angry protesters had last week had become embroiled in a scuffle with the police in Nankana Sahib over the arrest of some unidentified individuals in a case involving the marriage of a young couple. The protesters had dispersed after negotiations with the government who assured them of justice.
The main culprit accused of orchestrating a demonstration near the Sikh holy site in the small town of Nankana Sahib in Punjab was arrested for his role in the affair, according to a representative of the provincial government.
The judge hearing the case related to the marriage of the young couple has adjourned further hearings till January 23 and sent the girl back to the Darul Aman.
Originally published in The News
