The European Parliament is set to place fresh scrutiny on reports of abductions, forced religious conversions and forced marriages of minority girls in Pakistan. Lawmakers and human rights advocates will convene in Brussels and, after the event, an urgency resolution will be submitted to the European Parliament with a vote scheduled for July 15.
The renewed focus follows the case of Maria Shahbaz, a 13-year-old Christian girl whose marriage was upheld by Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court on Feb. 3. Her family says she was abducted by Shehryar Ahmad, a 30-year-old Muslim. The court ruling sparked protests among Pakistan’s Christian community, with rights advocates warning it could encourage similar abuses and increase risks for minority girls.
Organisers said the Brussels meeting will be co-hosted by European Parliament members Bert-Jan Ruissen and Matej Tonin, and will include speakers such as advocates and legal representatives supporting Shahbaz’s family, alongside testimonies from Maria Shahbaz’s parents and other affected families. Human rights groups say such cases often involve coercion, pressure to make statements supporting alleged abductors, and legal decisions that disregard age records.
Speakers said Pakistan is bound by multiple international human rights treaties, including protections for children and against discrimination and forced marriage. They also argue that enforcement is often weak and that complaints may be dismissed or not properly investigated, particularly when victims are from religious minorities.
The article also notes that international pressure has continued to build, including recommendations by UN experts urging Pakistan to intensify efforts to end forced religious conversions and forced marriages.
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