Case Summary

Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries for girls – especially if they are Christians.The case of Maira highlights a wider problem of forced “conversion” through marriage which affects an estimated 1,000 girls from religious minorities in this country every year.

The practice is usually carried out through kidnapping, sexual violence, and blackmail. Local authorities are often complicit in such cases. Sadly, courts have often failed to uphold the Child Marriage Restraint Act, which sets the legal age of marriage for girls at 16 years.

“The international community must take action to prevent such extreme violations of fundamental rights in Pakistan. Maira’s case is a much too frequent example of what religious minorities face in the country and can no longer go unnoticed. All people have the right to freely choose and live out their faith without fear of violence. All states must ensure that their laws and policies are in line with their commitments to protect religious freedom under international law,” said Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF international.

It is estimated that 1 in 5 girls are married by the age of 18 in Pakistan. Globally, an additional 100 million girls will be at risk due to child marriage over the next decade.