The kidnapping and conversion of Hindu and Sikh girls have been going on for decades.” Lakhawani also commented on the unfair treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan, which has led many to flee to India. Having that kind of perspective kept me going.”Īlso commenting on the forced conversions of girls in Sindh, speaker Shankar Lakhawani stated, “It is an honor to speak for the voiceless Sindhi Hindu girls who are kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam by Muslim men in Sindh. But when there is an accusation of blasphemy, everyone has something to say.” Gul also said “this whole process of making the Long Walk a reality was brutal, but still not as brutal as all the atrocities against Sindhi people – not as brutal as the atrocities against children in Pakistan and Sindhi Hindu girls. When children are sexually abused, the perpetrators are not brought to justice. His family is struggling to understand what he did wrong. “Notan Lal is just about to complete two years in prison for blasphemy. Sindhi-American Human Rights Activist, Fatima Gul, explored these issues in her speech, spotlighting the story of Sindhi school teacher, Notan Lal who was accused of blasphemy after reprimanding a student who told his father that the teacher had insulted the Prophet. Sindhi activists, writers, teachers, and artists are silenced for speaking out against these atrocities… For the sake of the Sindhi people, we must not be silent.” Sindhi Foundation member, Andrea Salas, kicked off the event, introducing the issues happening in Sindh “The Sindhi people have suffered from grave human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, forced conversions, enforced disappearances, censorship and torture. On their first event for the walk, Sindhi human rights activists met with American activists, politicians, and others to speak on the human rights violations happening in Sindh, and around the world. The objectives of the Long Walk are to spread awareness of the human rights and environmental injustices occurring regularly in Sindh, Pakistan, while also building bridges between the Sindhi people and other disenfranchised communities. This April 2021, the Sindhi Foundation launched The Long Walk for Freedom, Nature, and Love, a 350-mile march starting just steps away from the United Nations Headquarters in New York City to the iconic Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
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