Pakistan Court Upholds Marriage of Kidnapped Christian Girl, Sparks Outrage
In a highly controversial ruling that has ignited widespread condemnation, a Pakistani court has upheld the marriage of a 13-year-old Christian girl to a Muslim man who allegedly kidnapped and forcibly converted her. The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) delivered its verdict on March 25, 2026, granting custody of Maria Shahbaz to Shehryar Ahmad, a 30-year-old Muslim man accused of abducting her on July 29, 2025.
Court's Ruling and Legal Justification
A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha, issued a detailed judgment nearly two months after an initial short order on February 3. The court declared that Maria was of "mature age" and therefore lawfully in the custody of her husband. It further ruled that Sharia law permits Muslim men to marry women from Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book), and found Maria's conversion to Islam valid.
The judgment stated, "In Islam, no specific rituals are required for a non-Muslim to be regarded as having embraced the faith." It emphasized that a declaration affirming core beliefs, including the recitation of the Kalima and belief in the Oneness of Allah, is sufficient for conversion. The court accepted an affidavit attached to an alleged fake marriage certificate and a certificate from an Islamic seminary as proof of her conversion.
Dismissal of Age Evidence and Family's Claims
The court dismissed documentary evidence presented by Maria's father, Shahbaz Masih, which indicated she was a 12-year-old minor at the time of the marriage. Judges cited inconsistencies in the initial police report and delays in issuing official records, such as her birth registration and NADRA documents. They also pointed to discrepancies in family records, including a narrow gap between Maria's reported birth date and that of her younger sibling.
Additionally, the court noted that Maria herself listed her date of birth as February 1, 2007, on the marriage certificate and appeared older in court. "Her physical appearance before the court also suggests a more advanced age," the judgment concluded, deeming the available documents unreliable for establishing her minority status.
Criticism from Rights Groups and Activists
The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from Christian rights advocates and civil society groups, who argue that the court ignored critical evidence. Safdar Chaudhry of the Raah-e-Nijaat Ministry, which provided legal assistance to the Masih family, highlighted that the judges overlooked a police reinvestigation report, a reinstated FIR, and testimony from investigating officers indicating an illegal marriage with a minor.
Chaudhry told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News, "They also failed to consider that the girl remained in the custody of the accused for over six months, raising serious concerns about coercion." He described the two-month delay in issuing the detailed judgment as a "travesty of justice" and announced plans to challenge the ruling before a larger bench.
Tehmina Arora, director of advocacy for Asia at ADF International, called the verdict "deeply alarming" for Pakistan's religious minorities. She stated, "The court cannot attribute legal capacity or consent to a minor based solely on her statement while ignoring documentary evidence. In such cases, claims of consent are often made under coercion."
Broader Pattern of Abductions and Forced Conversions
Human rights advocates note that this case reflects a recurring pattern in Pakistan, where minority girls—some as young as 10—are abducted, forcibly converted, and married to Muslim men. Victims are often pressured to give statements favoring their abductors, while courts frequently discount official age documents and validate such unions, returning girls to their captors as "legal wives."
In a strongly-worded statement, the Minority Rights March (MRM) expressed being "appalled" by the FCC's ruling. The group criticized the court for legitimizing Maria's continued cohabitation with her abductor under the guise of a Nikah (Islamic marriage certificate) and for endorsing a coerced religious conversion.
The statement warned, "It is alarming that the highest judicial forum has delivered a verdict that risks emboldening those who abduct and abuse minor girls from minority communities under the cover of marriage." MRM urged the Attorney General of Pakistan to seek a review of the judgment and called on lawmakers to strengthen child marriage laws, including provisions to render such marriages void from the outset.
Context and International Concerns
Pakistan, where over 96% of the population is Muslim, ranked eighth on Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List of countries where Christians face severe persecution. The case underscores ongoing challenges in protecting religious minorities and enforcing child marriage restraint laws. Rights groups emphasize that the state must act to ensure justice is not denied, as the verdict has neither resolved the victim's age nor addressed underlying criminal allegations.
