A court in Faisalabad, Pakistan has drawn sharp criticism from Christian rights advocates after granting custody of Amber Nadeem, a 13-year-old Christian girl, to Mohsin Liaqat — the man accused of kidnapping, forcibly converting, and marrying her. Rights groups warned on 1 September that the ruling could expose the child to further abuse and coercion, and called on Pakistani authorities to intervene immediately.

How the Case Unfolded

According to Voice of Justice Chairman Joseph Janssen, Amber Nadeem was allegedly abducted by Mohsin Liaqat on 12 June. Following a police complaint by her family, authorities recovered the girl and placed her in protective custody at a Gender-Based Violence Unit, while Liaqat was arrested.

During initial proceedings before a judicial magistrate on 27 June, Amber allegedly stated that Liaqat's family had pressured her to claim she was an adult. The defence subsequently produced a conversion certificate and a marriage document listing her age as 18 years. Her family and legal representatives contested the authenticity of these documents, also noting that Amber's parents were married only in 2012 — raising serious questions about the claimed birth date.

Disputed Age Examination and Custody Order

The presiding magistrate ordered a medical examination to determine Amber's actual age and remanded her to a government shelter pending the outcome. However, according to Janssen, the results of that age examination were never produced before the magistrate.

Judge Rana Sohail of the additional district and sessions court subsequently granted custody of Amber to Liaqat and approved his bail. The judge also accepted a fresh affidavit in which Amber stated she had converted to Islam and married Liaqat of her own free will and had not been kidnapped. Rights advocates argue this affidavit was obtained under duress.

Advocates and Minority Groups Condemn the Ruling

Minorities Alliance Pakistan Chairman Advocate Akmal Bhatti, Voice of Justice Chairman Joseph Janssen, Advocate Haroon Michael, Sadaf Adnan, and Amber's mother Nadia Nadeem collectively raised concerns over the ruling, citing the discrepancies in the girl's documented age and the circumstances of her alleged conversion and marriage. They urged the Pakistani state to prioritise the child's safety and well-being over procedural technicalities.

European Parliament Resolution and Broader Pattern

This case is not isolated. In July, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on Pakistani authorities to end the abduction and forced conversion of girls from religious minority communities. Citing United Nations data for 2025, the resolution noted that Christian girls account for nearly 25 per cent of all cases involving forced religious conversion through marriage in Pakistan.

The resolution also highlighted the case of Maria Shahbaz, another 13-year-old Christian girl allegedly abducted in July 2025 by 30-year-old Shehryar Ahmad, who is accused of forcing her to convert and marry him. Pakistan's Federal Constitutional Court reportedly ruled in favour of the accused despite allegations of falsified documents and evidence suggesting the girl was underage. The European Parliament strongly criticised that ruling and called for Maria Shahbaz to receive legal assistance and psychological support.

Members of the European Parliament urged Pakistan to establish a comprehensive national framework to eliminate child marriage and create a dedicated national mechanism for handling complaints from families of abducted or forcibly converted minority girls. With the Amber Nadeem case now drawing fresh international attention, pressure on Islamabad to act is likely to intensify.