Sikh Girl Jagjit Kaur Allegedly Abducted and Forced to Convert to Islam in Pakistan

August 30, 2019: A case involving a young Sikh woman from Nankana Sahib in Pakistan’s Punjab province sparked widespread concern among the Sikh community after her family alleged that she had been abducted at gunpoint, forcibly converted to Islam and married against her wishes.

The woman, identified as Jagjit Kaur, was the daughter of Bhagwan Singh, a Granthi (Sikh priest) at Gurdwara Tambu Sahib in Nankana Sahib. According to her family’s complaint, armed men entered their house on the night of August 27, 2019, and took Jagjit away at gunpoint.

Her family alleged that she was subsequently forced to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim man named Muhammad Hassan. Videos related to the incident circulated on social media, attracting widespread attention in India and Pakistan.

Following the conversion, Jagjit was identified in a video as Ayesha Bibi. The video showed her marriage ceremony and included statements in which she appeared to accept her conversion and marriage. However, her family maintained that she had been threatened and forced into the marriage.

Family Alleges Threats and Forced Conversion

In a viral video, members of Jagjit Kaur’s family appealed to the Pakistani authorities for help. Her brother alleged that armed men had taken his sister from their home and that the family was being threatened for pursuing the matter.

According to the family’s allegations, they were warned that Jagjit’s father and brother would be killed if they did not accept her conversion and marriage. They also claimed that they had faced threats to withdraw their police complaint.

The incident raised concerns among members of Pakistan’s Sikh community, particularly because Jagjit’s father served as a Granthi at Gurdwara Tambu Sahib.

FIR Registered Against Six People

Following a complaint by Jagjit’s brother, Nankana Sahib police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against six people on August 28, 2019. The case was registered under Section 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with kidnapping or abducting a woman to compel her marriage.

Police officials told media organisations that the suspects had been traced to Lahore. Reports at the time stated that one suspect had been detained, while others had obtained pre-arrest bail or remained at large.

The case also involved allegations of threats and pressure on the victim’s family. However, the allegations of abduction and forced conversion remained disputed, as Jagjit was shown in a separate video stating that she had embraced Islam and married Muhammad Hassan of her own free will.

Captain Amarinder Singh Urges Imran Khan to Take Action

The incident prompted a strong reaction from Captain Amarinder Singh, the then Chief Minister of Punjab, India. He expressed concern over the family’s allegations and urged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to intervene.

Mr Singh also requested India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, to raise the matter with his Pakistani counterpart.

In a tweet on August 30, 2019, Amarinder Singh wrote:

“Shocking incident of a Sikh girl being kidnapped & forced to convert to Islam in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan. Call upon @ImranKhanPTI to take firm and immediate action against the perpetrators. Request @DrSJaishankar to strongly take up the issue with his counterpart at the earliest.”

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) also took note of the incident and called for intervention by the Indian government to ensure justice for Jagjit Kaur and her family.

Concerns Over the Safety of Religious Minorities

The case once again brought attention to concerns surrounding alleged forced conversions and marriages involving women from religious minority communities in Pakistan.

Sikh organisations and community representatives called for a fair investigation and demanded that Jagjit’s safety and wishes be taken into account. The incident also became a diplomatic concern after India raised the matter with Pakistan.

The case highlighted the importance of protecting the right

of religious minorities and ensuring that allegations of abduction, forced conversion and marriage are investigated transparently.