Faisalabad, Pakistan (24 November 2025) — During the annual gathering of Minority Concern’s Faisalabad chapter, the organisation expressed deep concern over persistent reports of forced conversions and coerced marriages of underage Christian girls in Pakistan, calling for urgent and coordinated action by Pakistani authorities, international human rights bodies, and civil society organisations.
Minority Concern is an advocacy organisation, and it remains steadfast in its mission to defend religious freedom, protect vulnerable communities, and support the rights of all girls to live in safety, dignity, and freedom.
Over the past several years, human rights groups, religious freedom advocates, and community organizations have documented a disturbing pattern: Christian and other minority girls—some as young as 12—being abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and compelled into marriages with adult men. Families who attempt to recover their children often face legal, social, and security challenges, while perpetrators frequently evade accountability due to gaps in enforcement, intimidation, and loopholes within existing laws.
Mr. Aftab Mughal, Director of Minority Concern said, “The coerced conversion and marriage of young girls is not only a violation of their religious freedom—it is a violation of their childhood, their dignity, and their basic human rights. No child should be forced to change her faith or enter a marriage she does not choose.”
Despite laws intended to protect minors, Minority Concern states that birth certificates and age documents are often disregarded in court proceedings. Families seeking justice face intimidation and social pressure. As perpetrators often exploit religious sensitivities to avoid investigation or prosecution, victims rarely receive protection or rehabilitation.
Minority Concern urges the Government of Pakistan to:
- Enforce existing child protection, marriage, and anti-abduction laws uniformly and without religious bias.
- Ensure that courts verify the age and consent of alleged converts, prioritizing the rights of minors.
- Establish special investigative units to address abduction and forced conversion cases.
- Provide safe shelters, legal counsel, and psychological support for victims and their families.
- Hold accountable individuals and networks involved in abduction, coercion, and child marriage.
“We also call on the international community—including the United Nations, human rights NGOs, and concerned citizens—to support monitoring efforts, push for legal reforms, and advocate for the protection of vulnerable minority communities, added Mr. Mughal.
The meeting was also addressed by Miss Aqsa Kanwal, Mr. Sameer Ajmal, Mrs. Nazia Sardar and Mrs. Shazia George.
Minority Concern (UK)
minorityconcern
gmail.com (minorityconcern[at]gmail[dot]com)
