The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
‘Last Jew in Pakistan’ allowed to profess Judaism
PAKISTAN HAS allowed a 29year-old Jewish activist to change his religion from Islam to Judaism. In normal circumstances, it would have been a normal practice to let Fishel Benkhald get the 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 Benkhald as he was registered as a Muslim, and it could be interpreted as apostasy which is punished with death according to Pakistani law. The ministry of interior has recently given the green light in response to Benkhald’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,bycorrectingitinasmart Idcardhehadappliedforlastyear.
NADRA 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 saidthat“theapplicantmaybeallowed to practice religion of (his) choosingandpreference”.nadra usuallyturnsdownsuchrequests, especially from Muslims.
Benkhald thanked the authorities, especially the interior ministry and NADRA. “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 slaverycelebratedinmarch-april.
Therearesome745registered Jew families in Pakistan. PTI