In Pakistan, the abduction of Christian girls has become a severe human rights crisis. Christian and other minority girls are regularly targeted, kidnapped, and forcibly converted to Islam, often under threats of violence.

Many victims, some as young as 12, are then forced into marriages with much older men, leaving their families with little legal recourse due to discriminatory laws and societal pressures. These incidents are often ignored or justified by local authorities, further isolating Christian communities.

Sheryl’s Story:

Today, we are sharing another incident with you: a 14-year-old Christian girl named Sheryl, from Francis Abad in Sheikhupura, was abducted on November 1, 2024. She was taken outside her home while she was on her way to buy household supplies from a nearby shop.

According to her mother, Bibi, I sent her to the shop, but when after some time, she did not return, I went to see where she was, and upon asking the neighbors, someone told her that A Muslim Neighbors son Shahbaz, along with friends and a woman, abducted her in a white Van.

She then immediately rushed to the police station to file complaints against the culprits. Police registered an FIR bearing number 3777/24 against Shahbaz, but no arrest has been made. Like in many other cases, in this case, the police are also supporting the Muslim men.

Due to deep-rooted religious biases and societal pressures, police officers frequently dismiss or minimize complaints from Christian families, leaving them with limited options for legal recourse. Victims are sometimes pressured to remain with their captors, with coerced statements made in favor of the abductors accepted as valid in court.

Our Action:

Our Organization Emergency Committee to Save the Persecuted and Enslaved (ECSPE) is working to bring attention to this issue and press for urgent reforms to protect vulnerable girls and uphold religious freedom and justice.

The family of Sheryl has contacted our team in Pakistan for legal support. We assured them that we would help bring their daughter Sheryl back home. Our legal team is currently investigating the matter, and we hope, like in other cases, to successfully reunite this minor girl with her family.

We humbly request you keep Sheryl and her family in your prayers as they endure unimaginable hardships. Let us also remember the Christian communities in Pakistan who face constant persecution and discrimination because of their faith.

These families live in fear and struggle for justice every day, facing threats of violence, abduction, and forced conversions. Your prayers and solidarity offer them hope and strength, reminding them they are not alone in their struggle. Together, let us lift them up, praying for their safety, resilience, and peace in their lives.