Young Christian Girl Forced to Convert and Marry Muslim Man
Topic: Forced Marriage & Religious Freedom
Maria Shahbaz was just 12 years old when she was abducted from her Christian family in Pakistan, forced to renounce her faith, and married against her will to her 30-year-old kidnapper, Shehryar Ahmad. Despite evidence confirming her age and proving her marriage certificate was forged, Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court left Maria in the custody of her abductor in February 2026 — leaving her vulnerable to further exploitation and abuse. On July 24, the same court agreed to hear a review petition that could finally return Maria to her family and set a vital precedent protecting children from forced marriage across Pakistan.
“No child should ever be left to helpless by the courts in the way Maria has. She has already endured unimaginable trauma, and every day she remains with her abductor is a day too long. The evidence in this case is clear and it is now up to Pakistan’s highest constitutional court to correct this grave injustice, uphold its own laws, and give Maria the chance to grow up safely with the family who loves her.”
— Tehmina Arora, Director of Advocacy for Asia, ADF International
Case Summary
Maria Shahbaz grew up in a Christian home in Pakistan. In July 2025, when she was just 12 years old, Maria was abducted by 30-year-old Shehryar Ahmad, forced to renounce her Christian faith, and married against her will to her captor. Since then, she has suffered ongoing abuse and exploitation.
Her case reached Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court in December 2025. Rather than returning her to her parents, the court granted custody to her abductor in February 2026 — a ruling made without ever confirming Maria’s age, in direct violation of Pakistani law. This was despite a prior investigation confirming she was a minor and establishing that her marriage certificate had been forged.
Maria’s case reflects a much larger crisis. More than 1,000 underage girls are forced into conversion and marriage every year in Pakistan, following a disturbingly consistent pattern: abduction, forged documentation, and courts that fail to protect children even when the law is clear. ADF International has represented numerous girls facing this same ordeal, including Reeha Saleem, abducted at 16 and later freed after her marriage was annulled, and Maira, a 14-year-old freed with ADF’s legal support after enduring forced conversion and abuse.
More recently, Pakistan has shown promising action to correct the widespread issue. In April 2026, Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province, recently passed the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, raising the minimum marriage age to 18 and requiring courts to prioritize the best interests of the child. International pressure is also mounting, with the European Parliament formally calling for Maria’s return to her family, and UN experts, EU MEPs, and UK Parliamentarians raising concerns about Pakistan’s ongoing forced marriage crisis.
At the July 24 hearing, the court agreed to hear Maria’s case in a review petition. This case represents a critical opportunity for Pakistan’s highest court to correct course — freeing Maria and reinforcing legal protections for vulnerable children across the country.