Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
International

Pakistan Grants Its 'Last Jew' Permission to Practice His Religion Judaism

Darpan News Desk IANS, 28 Mar, 2017 11:56 AM
    Pakistan has allowed a 29-year-old Jewish activist to change his religion from Islam to Judaism, an unusual move by authorities in the country. In normal circumstances, it would have been a normal practice to let Fishel Benkhald get religion of his choice in the column of religion for the forms filled to get national identity card and passport.
     
    But it was a task for Benkhaled as he was registered as a Muslim, and it could be interpreted as apostasy.
     
    The ministry of interior in Pakistan has recently given the green light in response to Benkhaled's application where he had sought 'conversion/correction' of his religion from Islam to Judaism in his national identity documents, the Express Tribune reported.
     
    In the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Benkhald is registered as a Muslim. Faisal, as he is known in his current identity documents, was born to a Muslim father and a Jewish mother in Karachi in 1987. He was registered as a Muslim due to his father's religion.
     
    However, he made an appeal to the NADRA to allow him to return to the religion of his choice, Judaism, by correcting it in a smart ID card he had applied for last year.
     
    NADRA, which was in a fix over the issue, had asked for the interior ministry's opinion to correct the religion of a former Muslim, a ministry source was quoted as saying by the daily.
     
    In its response, the ministry said in writing that "the applicant may be allowed to practice religion of (his) choosing and preference".
     
     
    NADRA usually turns down such requests, especially from Muslims to any other faith, due to the sensitive religious atmosphere in the country. Although the interior ministry has given the green signal, NADRA has yet to issue a smart card after correcting Benkhald's religion.
     
    A document available with daily suggests that correspondence between the ministry of interior and NADRA over the issue had taken place in February-March 2017.
     
    Benkhald thanked the authorities, especially the interior ministry and NADRA, for granting him the right to profess religion of his choice, the report said.
     
     
    "I studied Islam in childhood. But I never practiced it as a religion," Benkhald said adding that he would consider that a positive development in his case as a treat from Pakistani authorities for upcoming Passover - a religious event of Jews to commemorate their liberation from Egyptian slavery celebrated in March-April.
     
    Pakistani Jews, a few in numbers, usually hide their identity from public. According to a top NADRA official, their identity details, such as house addresses, in the authority's records are treated as top secret.
     
    There are some 745 registered Jew families in Pakistan, the official said.
     
    Benkhald said that recently he has mentioned himself as a Jew in the religion column during the ongoing census in Pakistan. Both the mother and father of Benkhald died in 1996 and 1998, respectively.
     
    "First milestone has been achieved," said Benkhald, who has also been campaigning for preserving an old Jewish cemetery in Karachi.
     
    His interesting story in past had caught attention of international media where he was dubbed 'The Last Jew in Pakistan'.
     
    Religious scholar Mufti Abdul Sattar, commenting over the issue, said a child was not bound to carry on the religion of his/her father or mother.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    H1B Visa Changes: External Affairs Ministry Says Engaged With US on Issue

    H1B Visa Changes: External Affairs Ministry Says Engaged With US on Issue
    India on Thursday said it is engaged with the Donald Trump administration as well as members of the US Congress on concerns regarding the H1B visa issue, amidst apprehension that there may be a clamp down on it which can hurt Indian IT industry.

    H1B Visa Changes: External Affairs Ministry Says Engaged With US on Issue

    Pakistani Woman Gunned Down By Relative For Working

    Pakistani Woman Gunned Down By Relative For Working
    A woman was gunned down in Kohat's Astarzai area last Friday allegedly by a relative who objected to her working outside the home, police said.

    Pakistani Woman Gunned Down By Relative For Working

    Amid Canada's Charm Offensive, Trump, Trudeau To Meet Monday In Washington

    WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Monday in Washington, the Prime Minister's Office says.

    Amid Canada's Charm Offensive, Trump, Trudeau To Meet Monday In Washington

    Sarah Palin As US Ambassador To Canada?

    OTTAWA — At least two federal New Democrat MPs don't find all the conjecture about Sarah Palin becoming U.S. ambassador to Canada very funny.

    Sarah Palin As US Ambassador To Canada?

    Rohinie Bisesar, Woman Accused In Downtown Toronto Stabbing, Set To Go To Trial Next January

    Rohinie Bisesar, Woman Accused In Downtown Toronto Stabbing, Set To Go To Trial Next January
    Rohinie Bisesar is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 28-year-old Rosemarie Junor.

    Rohinie Bisesar, Woman Accused In Downtown Toronto Stabbing, Set To Go To Trial Next January

    No One Hurt As Avalanche Rolls Over Highway 1 Near Yoho National Park

    LAKE LOUISE, Alta. — No one was hurt when an avalanche rolled over the Trans-Canada Highway in southeastern British Columbia early Wednesday morning.

    No One Hurt As Avalanche Rolls Over Highway 1 Near Yoho National Park