Are Minor Girls from Pakistan's Religious Minorities Being Abducted and Forced into Islam?
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Synopsis
The alarming trend of abduction and forced conversion of minor girls from Pakistan's religious minorities has raised serious concerns among human rights advocates. As 2,000 girls fall victim annually, the implications of these practices challenge the very fabric of justice and human rights in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Over 2,000 minor girls are abducted annually in Pakistan.
- The UN has condemned these practices.
- Hindu and Christian girls are the primary victims.
- Legal protections are inadequate due to the dominance of Islamic law.
- Apostasy laws prevent girls from returning to their faith.
Islamabad, Aug 12 (NationPress) At least 2,000 minor girls from Pakistan's religious minority communities are victimized each year through abduction, coerced marriages to Muslim men, and forced conversions to Islam, as revealed by a prominent rights organization in the country. A report from A Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) highlighted that these gender-based crimes disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of Pakistani religious minorities, particularly young girls. This issue has gained recognition from international organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union.
In 2024, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed its alarm regarding the exposure of these young women and girls from non-Muslim families to such egregious violations of human rights, emphasizing that the ongoing impunity for these crimes is unacceptable.
The UN condemned the abduction, forced marriage, and conversion of minor Hindu and Christian girls in Pakistan, criticizing the frequent judicial rulings that favor the abductors instead of the victims.
According to Sonja Dahlmans, an expert on gender-based religious persecution, Pakistan has a grim history of marginalizing its religious minorities, such as Hindus and Christians. The country ranks eighth on the annual list of Christian persecution compiled by Open Doors. Approximately one-quarter of all blasphemy accusations target Christians, despite them constituting merely 1.8% of Pakistan's population.
The report also noted rising concerns for the Hindu minority, as several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the Minority Rights Group, have documented a troubling increase in hate speech, discrimination, and marginalization against Hindus in Pakistan.
These abductions, forced marriages, and conversions of minor Hindu and Christian girls are symptomatic of a broader issue of discrimination against religious minorities in Pakistan. The report highlighted that Islamic law often supersedes the Constitution of Pakistan, which ostensibly guarantees religious freedom.
Once converted to Islam, these girls face insurmountable barriers to returning to their original faith due to apostasy laws, which classify leaving Islam as a capital offense. For instance, a 14-year-old Christian girl, Maira Shahbaz, who escaped her abductor, was subsequently accused of apostasy.
The report also shed light on the case of Chanda Maharaj, a 15-year-old Hindu girl who was abducted and forced to marry a Muslim man. Despite her parents' attempts to prove her minority status, the court ordered her return to her abductor after a year in a shelter home, deeming their evidence invalid.
These instances represent just the 'tip of the iceberg,' as countless girls and their families are let down by Pakistan's justice system year after year. The report noted that abductors often falsify birth certificates to claim that the girl is of legal age and pressure her to testify that her conversion was voluntary. In many cases, abductors and their families gain custody of the forcibly converted minors.
Point of View
I believe it is crucial to shed light on the dire situation of religious minorities in Pakistan. The systematic abduction and forced conversions of minor girls reflect a broader issue of discrimination that needs urgent attention and action from the international community.
NationPress
20/08/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
How many minor girls are abducted in Pakistan each year?
At least 2,000 minor girls from religious minority communities are abducted annually.
What has the United Nations said about this issue?
The United Nations has condemned the abduction and forced conversion of minor girls, stating that such human rights violations cannot be tolerated.
Which religious minorities are most affected?
Hindu and Christian minor girls are particularly targeted in these abductions and forced marriages.
What legal protections exist for these girls?
While the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees religious freedom, Islamic law often supersedes it, complicating legal recourse for victims.
What are the consequences of forced conversion?
Once converted to Islam, girls face legal and social barriers that prevent them from returning to their original faith, as apostasy is considered a capital offense.
