Story perspectives

EU Condemns Pakistan’s Forced Conversions, Child Marriages of Girls

7/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

European Parliament adopted a resolution July 9 2026 condemning abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of minority girls.
It cited 13-year-old Christian Maria Shahbaz, abducted July 29 2025, forcibly converted and married to Shehryar Ahmad, a marriage upheld by Federal Constitutional Court in March 2026, and demanded aid, complaint mechanism and prosecution of perpetrators.
UN data 2025 showed 75% Hindu and 25% Christian victims as Open Doors placed Pakistan eighth for Christian persecution in 2026.

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Story summary

European Parliament adopted a resolution July 9 2026 condemning abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of minority girls.
It cited 13-year-old Christian Maria Shahbaz, abducted July 29 2025, forcibly converted and married to Shehryar Ahmad, a marriage upheld by Federal Constitutional Court in March 2026, and demanded aid, complaint mechanism and prosecution of perpetrators.
UN data 2025 showed 75% Hindu and 25% Christian victims as Open Doors placed Pakistan eighth for Christian persecution in 2026.