Christians, rights advocates, and civil society members in Pakistan protested a federal court’s ruling supporting the forced conversion of a Christian girl by a Muslim man. The verdict allowed a 30-year-old Muslim man to retain custody of 13-year-old Maria Shahbaz, sparking outrage among the Christian community. Demonstrators gathered outside the Karachi Press Club, demanding better safeguards for underage girls and stricter laws against forced conversions and child marriages.
Speakers at the protest expressed concerns over the increasing incidents of abductions, forced conversions, and marriages involving Christian girls. They called on the Federal Constitutional Court to review its decision and urged the Pakistani Prime Minister and President to intervene promptly. Church leader and activist Ghazala Shafique criticized the court for disregarding child marriage laws by endorsing the Islamic conversion and marriage of a minor Christian girl.
Protests also took place by various groups like the National Christian Party and Gawahi Mission Trust, advocating for justice in the Maria Shahbaz case and the enforcement of laws prohibiting marriages under 18 years old. Civil society representatives, political figures, and human rights organizations in Lahore condemned the court’s ruling in a press conference. They labeled the decision as misleading and detrimental to safeguarding minors from harmful marriages that can have long-lasting negative effects.
