The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan has upheld the marriage of a 13-year-old Christian girl to a Muslim man, rejecting her father’s appeal for her release. The court deemed her conversion to Islam and subsequent marriage valid, citing her own statements to authorities. This ruling has sparked outrage from activists and the local Church, who are highlighting legal loopholes and calling for urgent reforms to set the marriage age at 18 and strengthen protections for minors against alleged forced conversions and child marriages.
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Between 2021 and 2025, a leading minority rights organization documented 515 cases of abductions and forced religious conversions of girls from Pakistan’s minority communities, with Hindu girls constituting the majority of victims. A significant portion of these victims were minors, between 14 and 18 years old, and some were even under 14. The organization highlighted that these incidents are often followed by legal battles where parents are told their daughters “converted” or “married willingly,” raising serious questions about consent, especially when minors are involved. The repeated upholding of such marriages and conversions by Pakistani courts has left families devastated and powerless, underscoring the urgent need for stronger legal safeguards and institutional accountability.
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John Q. Hosedrinker