The abduction and forced conversion of Hindu and Christian girls in Pakistan is a deeply troubling human rights issue that continues to plague religious minorities in the country. This systematic abuse primarily targets young girls from minority communities, subjecting them to kidnapping, forced religious conversion to Islam, and coerced marriages to Muslim men.

According to reports, nearly 1,000 girls from Hindu and Christian communities in Pakistan are abducted and forced to convert to Islam annually. There was a significant surge in forced conversion incidents, with an 80% increase in 2021 compared to 2020.

In 2023 alone, at least 136 incidents of abduction and forced conversions were recorded, affecting 110 Hindu and 26 Christian girls. The majority of these cases occurred in Sindh province (107), followed by Punjab (28) and Balochistan (1). These incidents often involve multiple criminal offenses, including assault, kidnapping, forced marriage, statutory rape, and forced prostitution.

The victims are typically minors, with 77% of the affected girls being younger than 18 years old and around 18% younger than 14. This violates existing Child Marriage Restraint Acts in three provinces, particularly in Sindh, where the minimum age for marriage is 18 years.

The Culprits Often Employ a Similar Pattern in these Cases:

Abduction: Girls are kidnapped, sometimes at gunpoint, from their homes or public spaces.

Forced conversion: Victims are coerced into converting to Islam, often under threat or duress.

Forced marriage: The girls are then married to their abductors or other Muslim men, frequently much older than them.

Legal manipulation: Perpetrators falsify the victims’ ages on marriage certificates to avoid legal consequences.

The Pakistani legal system has been criticized for its failure to protect minority rights in these cases. Courts often validate forced marriages and conversions, invoking religious law to justify keeping victims with their abductors rather than returning them to their families. Police frequently dismiss these crimes under the guise of “love marriages,” allowing perpetrators to escape accountability.

Attempts to enact comprehensive legislation addressing forced conversions have faced resistance. Bills proposed in 2016, 2019, and 2020 were rejected, with some Pakistani Islamists criticizing such efforts as Western schemes to tarnish Pakistan’s image.

International Pressure

The United Nations has repeatedly condemned these practices and urged Pakistani authorities to respect their international obligations. In April 2024, UN experts expressed grave concerns over the increase in abductions, forced marriages, and conversions of underage girls from religious minorities. They called on Pakistan to uphold its obligations under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, prohibit forced religious conversions, and enforce laws ensuring marriages are contracted only with the free and full consent of both parties.

Despite these international pressures and occasional efforts by activists and concerned citizens to seek justice, the lack of specific legislation addressing forced conversions perpetuates impunity for perpetrators and exacerbates the suffering of victims. The ongoing abductions and forced conversions of Hindu and Christian girls in Pakistan remain a critical human rights issue that demands urgent attention and action from both the Pakistani government and the international community.