A Pakistani court has annulled the forced marriage and conversion to Islam of 18-year-old Christian girl, Shahida Bibi, granting her the freedom to return to her father and practice her faith.
Bibi was 11 years old when her mother eloped with a Muslim man, who then ‘gave’ her to his brother. Bibi bore two children with her captor who formalised their union through an Islamic Nikah - a marriage union when Bibi turned 18, allowing him to evade prosecution under Pakistan’s anti-child marriage laws.
In a landmark decision in February 2025, a civil court in Bahawalpur ruled in Bibi’s favour, dissolving the forced marriage. The court also ordered the issuance of new identification documents declaring her religion as Christianity.
Bibi’s case was supported by ADF International, a legal advocacy group defending religious minorities.
Tehmina Arora, ADF’s Director of Advocacy for Asia, hailed the ruling, stating:
“We are grateful that Shahida Bibi has received justice over her captor. Shahida is now free and able to begin the process of healing from this ordeal.
“These cases are a tremendous violation of these young women’s basic human rights, including their religious freedom.”
According to UNICEF, 100 million girls worldwide are at risk of forced child marriage over the next decade, with girls from religious minorities facing an even greater threat of coercion into both marriage and religious conversion.
ADF International reports that Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country, sees more than 1,000 girls from minority communities forcibly converted to Islam and married each year. Many victims are unable to escape due to threats against them and their families.
Pakistan’s human rights record has drawn increasing scrutiny from global leaders. In January 2025, the European Union issued a warning over the country’s human rights - including blasphemy laws, forced conversions and religious persecution. It emphasises that a failure to address these issues could impact its trade benefits.
The EU is Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner, and its GSP+ status grants preferential access to European markets. However, this status is contingent on meeting international commitments related to human rights, labour protections, environmental sustainability, and governance.
Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers and human rights organisations continue to urge Pakistan to implement reforms to safeguard religious freedom and protect vulnerable communities from forced marriages and conversions.
