Rinkle’s conversion: A matter of free will?

If you are brave enough to choose, be prepared that a lot of judgment will go around.

Zahrah Mazhar March 19, 2012
I was born a Muslim, I was raised a Muslim, but I discovered Islam by my own choice. The same could be said for Rinkle Kumari who recently converted from Hinduism to Islam and now goes by the name Faryal. It could actually be said for anyone who chooses to switch their religion from the one they were introduced to as a child.

Faryal recited the kalma in front of the media and proclaimed that she, by her own choice, converted to Islam. Good enough. But one has to wonder why she felt the urge to immediately jump into marriage right after her conversion - a question which was also raised by Faryal’s parents. I would think changing one’s religion is a big enough step as it is.

Adding to my reservations about her motives for this change is that I don’t find many examples of women ‘choosing’ to be one way or the other; it is usually decided for them.

To clarify, I’m not generalising, I’m talking majority. In a society where some frown upon career-oriented women while others look down upon the ‘mere’ housewives, the freedom of choice is not a privilege, but a right earned. If you are brave enough to choose, be prepared that a lot of judgment will go around. Not to say that it’s gender specific, because if you’re a man working in the fashion industry, there are bound to be rumours about your sexuality floating about before your first design walks down the ramp.

So it’s not difficult to understand why Faryal’s family is not convinced that their daughter chose Islam and this is when I haven’t even gone into societal pressures on religious minorities.

But I’ll still give her statements the benefit of the doubt. As for the marriage right after accepting Islam, maybe she thought it’d be easier to face the backlash with a man by her side. After all in Pakistan’s society, irrespective of religion and no matter which wing you belong to, a man saves the day - you may now judge me for using this cliché.

Published in The Express Tribune.
WRITTEN BY:
Zahrah Mazhar The author is a senior sub-editor on the Karachi Desk at The Express Tribune.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (16)

k s hindwi | 12 years ago | Reply Wait and watch.Don't be emotional.It is the Life of Rinkle who is the author of his life.She is free to choose any option.There are only politics , nothing more than this.
Sane | 12 years ago | Reply @Vikram At least in Pakistan if someone doesn't convert, nobody says anything to him/her. But, in some countries like one among neighbors, if someone refuses to choose the religion of majority then he/she is killed. And the entire community is killed or their properties are burnt. Isn't it.
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