Pakistan: Information on the situation of a Muslim woman who marries a Hindu, and whether Pakistani law provides the death penalty for such a woman
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK17522.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: Information on the situation of a Muslim woman who marries a Hindu, and whether Pakistani law provides the death penalty for such a woman, 1 June 1994, PAK17522.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abe57f.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a representative of the Ahmadi Movement in Islam, Islam permits Muslims to marry people of the book who are Christians and Jews (7 June 1994). Since Hindus are not considered to be people of the book, there is a "strong" likelihood that Muslim men and women who marry Hindus will face social discrimination from fanatic Muslims (ibid). This social discrimination might include violent acts (ibid.).
The representative holds that although the Shariat Ordinance does not specifically sanction the death penalty for Muslims who marry Hindus, it does provide the death penalty for at least two groups of people: persons who have renounced Islam, and those who have desecrated the holy prophet of Islam. Because Islam does not sanction marriages between Muslims and persons who are not considered to be people of the book, an act of marriage between a Muslim and a Hindu could be interpreted as a renunciation of Islam. In such a case a Muslim man or women could be sentenced to death. The DIRB is currently unable to corroborate this information.
The copy of the Pakistan Penal Code contained in Pakistan Penal Code with Shariat Criminal Laws available to the DIRB in Ottawa does not specify any penalty for marriages between Muslims and Hindus. The DIRB is in the process of obtaining a copy of the Shariat law and its implementation, which may make reference to marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims. The DIRB is also waiting to receive additional information from oral sources. This information will be forwarded to you when and if the DIRB receives it.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Ahmadi Movement in Islam, Toronto. 7 June 1994.
Angam, Ahsan Sohail. 1984. Pakistan Penal Code with Shariat Criminal Laws. 1984. Lahore: Mansoor Book House.
