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Nawaz's Holi message: 'Islam gives people freedom to choose their religion'

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1320442/n...gives-people-freedom-to-choose-their-religion

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday delivered a progressive and inclusive message to minorities in the country, saying "no one can force others to adopt a certain religion".

Nawaz began his speech with a message of inclusiveness, saying his foremost duty as a ruler is to serve followers of all religions and not one in particular.

“God will not ask a ruler what he did for followers of a certain religion,” said Nawaz. “He will ask people such as me: what did we do for God’s creation?”

"Some people wear a turban. Some wear a chogha. Others wear a suit and tie, and some wear shalwar kameez."

"These are all creations of God," the premier added. "And that's fine. This is a freedom given to us by God. Who are we to take it away?"

He also quoted Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and said, "If a place of worship of a non-Muslim is damaged in an Islamic country, Islamic government... I will fight their case myself on the Day of Judgment."

“I am a follower of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), if there is anyone in unjustly treated, it is my duty to stand by them,” said the prime minister.

He said if people were to see a "prosperous Pakistan", they have to "think as a Pakistani".

"One the one hand, there are people who want to see the country prosper; on the other, there are people who want to create divisions," Nawaz said, warning the people to watch our for the latter.

"All religions in the world teach respect for humanity. No religion gives a wrong teaching," he said. "Islam teaches respect for all religions."

"And it is a matter of great satisfaction that the Pakistani nation has always rejected politics of hate," the premier added.

"No matter what religion or beliefs you follow, or what part of the country you belong to, you must be provided equal access to progress and development," said the prime minister while addressing the gathering.

"Pakistan was not made so one religion can dominate over others."

"Religion does not force anyone to do anything, let alone forcing anyone to adopt a certain religion," said the prime minister.

"Forced conversions are considered a criminal practice according to our religious teachings," he added.

Nawaz, reiterating his message, paused his address and asked audience members to try and carefully understand what he is saying. "These are important things," he said.

Speaking on the law and order situation in Karachi, the prime minister said that things have greatly improved since 2013, particularly in reference to the decrease in reports of abduction of members from the Hindu community, many of whom were business owners.

The prime minister, who appeared to be in a celebratory and jovial mood, made the address at a hotel in Karachi on the occasion of Holi, the spring festival celebrated by the Hindu community.

"I am so happy to be here. The energy, the passion, the fervour is amazing in this hall," the premier remarked. "Happy Holi!" he wished the gathering as the crowd cheered him on.

The prime minister’s remarks come at a time when the Sindh Assembly passed a landmark bill criminalising forced conversion of minority community members. The Sindh governor is yet to sign the legislation.

An alarming numbers of reports have surfaced in recent years about the forced conversion to Islam of Hindu girls by landlords in rural Sindh. Members of the Hindu community families had said they have no legal recourse for registering the crimes.

The bill, which was passed by the Sindh assembly at the end of last year, invited the ire of religious scholars who believed some of its clauses were against the teachings of Islam and contrary to the Constitution.

Nawaz Sharif is in Karachi on a two-day visit where he is expected to preside a high level security meeting.

The premier will leave for Gwadar on Wednesday, where he is scheduled to chair a high level meeting on development projects in connection with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
 
but if you leave Islam, then you could be charged and tried under apostasy :)
 
It should be appreciated what he is saying.. Good statements.
 
His statements are good, but the law, along with the sentiment of the people in the country do not reflect this.

What can you expect as a citizen of Pakistan if you decide to leave Islam?
 
And treated as a second-class citizen as per dhimmi.
 
And treated as a second-class citizen as per dhimmi.

And you say that from your comfort in Bradford, Robert is going on like he has lived his life in Pakistan as a second class citizen
 
And you say that from your comfort in Bradford, Robert is going on like he has lived his life in Pakistan as a second class citizen

Does that make my statement untrue? Always the way in this place - attack the messenger, never consider the message, never look inside for the answers. That is why Islamic civilisation went into decline.
 
Does that make my statement untrue? Always the way in this place - attack the messenger, never consider the message, never look inside for the answers. That is why Islamic civilisation went into decline.

Truer words were never spoken.
 
Does that make my statement untrue? Always the way in this place - attack the messenger, never consider the message, never look inside for the answers. That is why Islamic civilisation went into decline.

Yes it does it is very uninformed, narrow minded and lacks the intelligence which stems from ground realities making your statement untrue and generally lacks substance to begin with it; POINT! EVIDENCE! EXPLAIN! :mv you have not done any of these! You sound a bit like Donald Trump to be honest :yk come across as the sought of guy who just believes anything like a sheep only reason why you'd want me to pledge allegiance to your flat statement
 
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'Islam gives people freedom to choose their religion' but muslims do not give people the freedom to choose their religion
 
And you say that from your comfort in Bradford, Robert is going on like he has lived his life in Pakistan as a second class citizen

I live here and robert is right.

Forget Hindus or CHristiens.

People hate Shias to the gutts here.

At first i also use to believe that this hate against minorities is all lie and doesnt exist in Pakistan. But that is when i was hanging out in the upper middle class areas of Pindi.

I started going and hanging out in the lower middle class of Pindi, and all the time you will hear from their mouth how they shias and would never be friends with them and all.

If thats how much hate one could have in someones heart for someone, then god knows how they conduct their actions on them
 
Is he fried?

Yes Islam can give me the freedom to choose Hinduism.

How then am I even associated with Islam?

Leaving Islam itself is a sin.
 
I live here and robert is right.

Forget Hindus or CHristiens.

People hate Shias to the gutts here.

At first i also use to believe that this hate against minorities is all lie and doesnt exist in Pakistan. But that is when i was hanging out in the upper middle class areas of Pindi.

I started going and hanging out in the lower middle class of Pindi, and all the time you will hear from their mouth how they shias and would never be friends with them and all.

If thats how much hate one could have in someones heart for someone, then god knows how they conduct their actions on them

Robert is generally clueless, you're explaining your point and not just providing flat statements so I give you credit for that but evidence is also important. PEE; point, evidence, explain.
 
Is he fried?

Yes Islam can give me the freedom to choose Hinduism.

How then am I even associated with Islam?

Leaving Islam itself is a sin.

Pretty silly comment in itself but reading some of his comments with a bit of context in the OP he was trying to advocate that Islam advocates tolerance for the beliefs of others. Unfortunately, bitter people have used this as an opportunity to derail the religion when something positive is being said; typical pagans.
 
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Pretty silly comment in itself but reading some of his comments with a bit of context in the OP he was trying to advocate that Islam advocates tolerance for the beliefs of others. Unfortunately, bitter people have used this as an opportunity to derail the religion when something positive is being said; typical pagans.

Yeah I get the point he was trying to make, but as usual, this imbecile didn't know how to convey the message.

Also, there are obviously better things he as a Prime Minister should focus on rather than discussing which religion should celebrate Holi.
 
Yeah I get the point he was trying to make, but as usual, this imbecile didn't know how to convey the message.

Also, there are obviously better things he as a Prime Minister should focus on rather than discussing which religion should celebrate Holi.

True, this is like his 16th term as PM isn't it? give someone else a chance! Insanity is doing the same thing again and again but expecting different results:sarf:ma:faf:kohli:uak
 
Nawaz should really tell this to the Ulema council so they can issue a Fatwa on the issue of apostasy and freedom of religion in Islam. Anyone who knows a bit of classical Fiqh knows this isnt the case amongst most scholars.
 
so on closer inspection nawaz is saying its ok for non muslims to celebrate Holi which makes more sense. good statement anyway. Freedom to choose your religion or leave a religion is a human right and should be respected across the board. None of this 2+2 is 5 nonsense.
 
Great message from Nawaz and although it means NOTHING in practical world but i am happy that at least it sends a great message to minorities in the country.
 
Nawaz should really tell this to the Ulema council so they can issue a Fatwa on the issue of apostasy and freedom of religion in Islam. Anyone who knows a bit of classical Fiqh knows this isnt the case amongst most scholars.

:)

- do you want to mix religion with politics?
- do you want rubber stamped fatwas?
 
Nothing wrong with what he said and it's a good message to send but your nation's laws should back such sentiments.
 
And treated as a second-class citizen as per dhimmi.

The status of dhimma was discriminatory (its modalities varied with places/times) but protected religious communities for centuries, and the Ottoman millet system was the most tolerant out of its form, to the extent that the modern state of Israel adopted it. It was never perfect, but out of millennia, it remained the most efficient system. What happened to non Christians in Europe ? Ramsay MacMullen - the leading authority on Late Antiquity today - has written books on how the Roman Empire has been made Christian, through methodic violence, bunch of illiterate monks going into rural villages and terrifying the populace to accept baptism (that's from where "pagan" comes from - they weren't accepting the new religion that easily). Also we all know how Charlemagne, "the father of Europe", treated German pagans, and how when those Germans converted and became Teutonic knights themselves treated Baltic pagans.

I can guarantee you Jews in the 40s would have loved to be dhimmis.
 
Yes it does it is very uninformed, narrow minded and lacks the intelligence which stems from ground realities making your statement untrue and generally lacks substance to begin with it; POINT! EVIDENCE! EXPLAIN! :mv you have not done any of these! You sound a bit like Donald Trump to be honest :yk come across as the sought of guy who just believes anything like a sheep only reason why you'd want me to pledge allegiance to your flat statement

OK [MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION], I withdraw my dhimmi comment as I can't really substantiate that the practice still exists except in extraordinary situations such as ISIL which is not mainstream Islam. Neither am I sure that the dhimmitude is practiced in Western societies, except as an expression of the more generalised multiculturalism current.

Now I've done that, will you choose to attack the message not the messenger in future?
 
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OK [MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION], I withdraw my dhimmi comment as I can't really substantiate that the practice still exists except in extraordinary situations such as ISIL which is not mainstream Islam. Neither am I sure that the dhimmitude is practiced in Western societies, except as an expression of the more generalised multiculturalism current.

Now I've done that, will you choose to attack the message not the messenger in future?

Always follow the PEE rule Robert :afridi POINT! EVIDENCE! EXPLAIN! I like you would take flat statements with a pinch of salt there was no attack involved :mv, but I'll give you credit for explaining your views!
 
Nawaz seems like a reasonable decent man. Does he have the actual power to ensure/enforce the things he proclaims ?
 
Nawaz Sharif is doing everything he can to eradicate extremism from Pakistani society.

More power to him.
 
Under an Islamic state non muslims have several rights , and there protection is more important and in more priority than Muslims. The only right they do not have is participation in legislation , but they can have there representative to discuss there own issues.

Protection of there worship places would be given foremost priority.
 
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