Lahore, Pakistan — A controversial court ruling in Pakistan has triggered widespread concern among human rights advocates after a 13-year-old Christian girl was returned to the custody of the man accused of abducting her, despite ongoing allegations of forced conversion and child marriage.

The case centers on Maria Shahbaz, a Christian minor whose parents allege that she was kidnapped from Lahore in July 2025 by an adult Muslim man. According to the family, Maria was forcibly converted to Islam and compelled into a marriage against her will.

After months of legal proceedings, Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court ruled that Maria would remain with the man accused of abducting her. The decision reportedly relied on statements attributed to the girl claiming that she had converted to Islam and entered the marriage voluntarily.

Maria’s parents and legal supporters strongly dispute those claims, arguing that any statements made by the child were given under pressure after she had spent months in the custody of the accused. Rights advocates have expressed alarm that the court allegedly disregarded official documentation confirming Maria’s age and previous legal findings that questioned the validity of the marriage.

Christian leaders, legal activists, and minority rights organizations have condemned the ruling, warning that it reflects a broader pattern affecting vulnerable girls from religious minority communities in Pakistan. Advocacy groups have repeatedly documented cases in which underage Christian and Hindu girls are allegedly abducted, forcibly converted, and married to significantly older men.

The verdict has sparked protests and renewed calls for stronger legal protections for religious minorities and minors. Activists argue that child marriages and religious conversions involving minors should never be recognized as valid under the law.

Several organizations have urged Pakistani authorities to review the case and ensure that the rights and safety of children are protected regardless of their religious background. They also continue to call for strict enforcement of child protection laws and greater accountability in cases involving alleged coercion and forced marriage.

Maria’s family says they remain committed to pursuing justice and hope that future legal action will allow their daughter to return home safely.

The case has become a symbol of the ongoing struggle faced by many minority families in Pakistan, where concerns over forced conversions and child marriages continue to draw international attention and criticism.

Justice Froth Organization stands in solidarity with victims of religious persecution, forced conversion, and child exploitation, and calls for equal protection, justice, and human dignity for every child regardless of faith or ethnicity.