Brussels, July 10: The European Parliament has passed a resolution condemning the abduction, forced religious conversion, and child marriage of underage girls belonging to religious minority communities in Pakistan, while urging Islamabad to strengthen legal protections and ensure justice for victims.
The resolution specifically referred to the case of 13-year-old Maria Shahbaz, a Pakistani Christian girl who was allegedly abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married to her abductor in March 2026.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) called on Pakistani authorities to ensure that the minor has access to legal representation, regular contact with her family, and psychological support.
Citing United Nations data from 2025, the European Parliament noted that among women and girls affected by forced conversion through marriage in Pakistan, approximately 75 percent were Hindus and 25 percent were Christians.
The lawmakers said Maria Shahbaz’s case reflects a broader pattern of human rights violations faced by religious minorities in the country.
The European Parliament urged Pakistan to fully implement its national framework to end child marriage across the country and establish a nationwide mechanism to investigate complaints involving abducted or forcibly converted girls from minority communities.
The resolution also called on authorities to:
- Protect religious minorities from targeted abuse.
- Ensure transparent and independent investigations into cases involving minors or allegations of coercion.
- Prosecute those responsible for abductions and forced conversions.
- Strengthen the judicial system to safeguard victims’ rights.
- Facilitate the safe return of abducted girls to their families.
The resolution follows concerns expressed by United Nations experts in April, who warned that the continued abduction, forced conversion, and forced marriage of minority women and girls in Pakistan remain widespread.
The UN experts stated that any change of religion must be entirely free from coercion and that children cannot legally provide free and informed consent to marriage.
They also urged Pakistan to address the underlying causes of these abuses, including gender inequality, discrimination against religious minorities, poverty, social exclusion, religious intolerance, and impunity.
The experts reiterated that freedom of religion or belief and equality before the law must be guaranteed for all citizens without discrimination.
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