The Qur’an says “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256). However, what constitutes “compulsion” is in the eye of the beholder. The institutionalized subjugation of the dhimma, with its regular humiliation and harassment, from which one can be freed for the simple price of converting to Islam, is not considered compulsion. Remember Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig, the journalists who were kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam — even though their conversions were obviously coerced, their captors made them say that they were converting freely, and the captors probably believed that themselves. After all, the journos could have chosen to be killed instead.
“Faith Under Duress: Pakistani Christian Boy (13 yrs) Drugged and Coerced into Converting to Islam,” British Asian Christian Association, April 22, 2024 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
A young Christian boy in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Lahore faced harassment and coercion from a Muslim security officer who demanded he participate in Muslim prayers.
The security officer forcibly removed the boy’s cross necklace and pressured him to recite Islamic pray, despite the boy clearly expressing his Christian faith.
Later, the boy’s parents discovered him partially conscious behind a primary school.
On April 14th, Saim Masih, a 13-year-old Christian boy, faced intimidation from a Muslim security guard named Muhammad Abdul Qadir Khan. Khan attempted to bribe Siam into converting to Islam and pressured him to participate in the Maghrib prayer (4th of 5 daily prayers to be recited by Muslims), despite Saim’s repeated refusals.
Around 4:00 pm that day, Siam, an 8th-grade student, left his home in Baowala, Lahore, to visit a local salon for a haircut. As he approached a barricaded street in the affluent neighborhood of DHA (Defense Housing Authority), Muhammad Abdul Qadir Khan intercepted him. After a brief introduction, Khan asked Saim if he had performed the Maghrib prayer. Siam, being Christian, replied that he had not, to which Khan attempted to dissuade him from his faith, stating:
“Stop being a Christian! They are worthless,” Saim Masih recounted to BACA. Despite Saim’s repeated requests to leave, Mr. Khan persistently engaged him in conversation, continuing his efforts to convince Saim to abandon his Christian faith. He even went as far as offering money and a trip to Peshawar in exchange for converting to Islam.
“I will give you money and take you with me to Peshawar,” Mr. Khan insisted. Saim felt increasingly threatened when Mr. Khan forcibly removed the cross necklace from around his neck and urged him to accompany him to his living quarters to perform the Maghrib prayer.
“I cannot offer prayer. I am a Christian, and I don’t know how to perform a Muslim prayer,” Saim responded fearfully.
“Don’t worry, I will teach you. Accept Islam, and I will give you money and take you with me to Peshawar to show you its green landscape,” Mr. Khan persisted.
Despite Saim’s continued refusals, Mr. Khan persisted in his efforts to coerce him. Fortunately, a woman from Saim’s neighborhood happened to pass by the security checkpoint. Recognizing her, Saim pleaded for her help. The woman intervened, rebuking Mr. Khan for his harassment and demanding the return of Saim’s cross and goggles. However, she left without ensuring that Mr. Khan complied with her instructions.
Undeterred, Mr. Khan continued to pressure Saim to accompany him to his living quarters. Sensing danger, Saim attempted to flee after the woman who had intervened earlier. Unfortunately, as Saim sought help from a passerby, this individual seemed preoccupied with their phone, and Siam was once again apprehended by Mr. Khan.
Mr. Khan persisted in his demands, urging Saim to pray, convert to Islam, accept money as a gift, and eat the food he had brought with him. Despite Saim’s repeated refusals, Mr. Khan forcefully made him eat some sweets.
Siam does not recall what happened after consuming the sweet, but he was later discovered unconscious….