Sarabjit Kaur, a 48-year-old Indian Sikh woman from Amanipur village in Kapurthala district, Punjab, recently made headlines after marrying a Pakistani man during a pilgrimage to Pakistan. Kaur had traveled to Pakistan earlier this month as part of a group of approximately 2,000 Sikh devotees to commemorate the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. The pilgrimage, organized under the guidance of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, involved visits to key Sikh religious sites in Pakistan, including Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev.

While most of the pilgrimage group returned to India on November 13, Kaur was reported missing, prompting Indian authorities to alert the Punjab police. Her disappearance triggered concern among family members and the local community. Initial reports indicated that Kaur had separated from the group, but the circumstances surrounding her absence remained unclear.

Within days, reports emerged that Kaur had married a local Muslim man, Nasir Hussain, in Sheikhupura district, located about 50 kilometers from Lahore. She reportedly converted to Islam upon marriage, taking the name Noor Hussain. Pakistani authorities confirmed that Kaur’s marriage and conversion were voluntary. A Pakistan police official told news agency PTI that Kaur had declared her decision to marry Nasir and convert to Islam was made of her own free will, stating that the marriage took place the day after her arrival in Pakistan on November 4.

Following the marriage, the couple went into hiding, and local police were reportedly searching for them. On November 18, they approached the Lahore High Court, complaining that the police were harassing them to end their marriage and had conducted an unauthorized raid at their home in Farooqabad, Sheikhupura district. In response, Justice Farooq Haider ordered the authorities to stop interfering in the couple’s lives.

According to the court petition, Kaur stated that her husband is a Pakistani citizen and that she had contacted the Indian mission to obtain Pakistani nationality. Her decision to marry Nasir Hussain reportedly stemmed from a longstanding acquaintance; in a video clip circulating on social media, she claimed to have known him for nine years. In the video, Kaur is heard saying she was divorced and willingly marrying Nasir out of love.

The incident has sparked discussion and media attention in both India and Pakistan, highlighting cross-border social and legal issues, as well as the personal choices of individuals traveling for religious purposes. Authorities in both countries have stated that her marriage is legally recognized in Pakistan and that Kaur’s rights and freedom to choose her spouse should be respected.

Sarabjit Kaur’s case underscores the complexities that can arise when citizens travel abroad for religious pilgrimages, particularly in sensitive cross-border contexts. While the Indian government has been informed about her situation, the Lahore High Court ruling currently safeguards her rights and her decision to marry a Pakistani citizen.

In summary, Sarabjit Kaur is an Indian woman who traveled to Pakistan for a Sikh pilgrimage, subsequently married a local Pakistani man, converted to Islam, and changed her name to Noor Hussain. Her marriage has been legally recognized by the Pakistani judiciary, following claims of police harassment. The case continues to attract attention due to its cross-border, religious, and legal dimensions.