The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) of Pakistan has sparked outrage by upholding the marriage of 13-year-old Christian girl Maria Shahbaz to 30-year-old Muslim man Shehryar Ahmad, accused of abducting and forcibly converting her. The ruling, issued on March 25, 2026, has alarmed human rights defenders, minority advocates, and legal experts, who warn it undermines protections for minors and sets a perilous precedent for vulnerable communities.
Maria, from Lahore, was reportedly abducted on July 29, 2025. Her family alleges she was forcibly converted to Islam and married without consent. Despite repeated appeals, the court granted custody of Maria to her alleged abductor, citing her “mature age” and purported consent, while ignoring her official birth certificate issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), confirming she was a minor.
The two-judge bench, including Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha, cited Islamic law allowing Muslim men to marry women from Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book). The court accepted minimal evidence of her conversion—a declaration of faith, affidavit, and seminary certificate—while dismissing her father’s objections. Emphasis was placed on Maria’s physical maturity and the date on her marriage certificate, sidelining official documentation.
Civil society activists argue the FCC ignored critical investigative findings, including a police reinvestigation report and testimony confirming coercion. Legal advisor Safdar Chaudhry called the ruling a “travesty of justice,” stressing that ignoring birth records and judicial precedent endangers minority girls, who remain highly vulnerable to abduction, forced conversion, and child marriage.
Minority rights organizations condemned the verdict, highlighting its inherent contradictions: declaring a marriage illegal under child marriage laws yet legally valid. Tehmina Arora of ADF International called it “deeply alarming,” warning that such rulings embolden perpetrators and weaken constitutional protections for minorities.
Parliamentary voices in the United Kingdom echoed these concerns. Lord Alton, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Pakistani Minorities, stressed the importance of safeguarding children and religious minorities. Prof. Javaid Rehman warned that the decision undermines provincial laws setting 18 as the minimum marriage age and urged judicial training on consent, forced conversions, and minority rights.
The Catholic Church also expressed alarm. Archbishop Joseph Arshad criticized inconsistent law enforcement and urged authorities to safeguard minors according to Pakistan’s constitution and international obligations. Civil society highlights a recurring pattern: minority girls, sometimes as young as 10, are abducted, forcibly converted, and married, with courts often discounting age documentation and validating coerced unions.
Legal experts note that the FCC relied on outdated precedents while ignoring contemporary statutes, including Sections 292-A, 328-A, 375/376, 377-A/B, and 498-B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which criminalize seduction, cruelty, sexual abuse, and forced marriage. Advocates emphasize that a minor’s consent cannot absolve perpetrators of liability. Courts should prioritize the child’s protection—returning her to guardians or state protection if necessary. By granting custody to her alleged abductor, the FCC undermined these safeguards, effectively shielding acts that would otherwise constitute serious crimes.
Minority rights activists warn that such rulings embolden abduction, statutory rape, and sexual abuse under the guise of marriage and conversion. The state has a constitutional duty under Article 36 to protect minorities and prevent forced conversions. Calls have been made for an urgent review of the verdict and amendments to provincial child marriage laws to void unions involving minors automatically.
For countless minority girls in Pakistan, Maria’s story is heartbreakingly familiar. Abduction, forced conversion, and coerced marriage are met not with protection but judicial indifference. Girls, some barely in their teens, are stripped of childhood, silenced, and forced into religious and sexual subjugation. Time and again, courts side with abductors, ignoring evidence and laws designed to protect children. Justice for these minors is often a distant, denied promise.
Each ruling that validates coercion sends a chilling message: perpetrators are protected, victims ignored. Families are powerless, communities live in fear, and cycles of exploitation persist. In Maria’s case, the law meant to shield has become a weapon, exposing systemic failures that leave minority girls vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Until Pakistan confronts this crisis with enforceable child protection laws, judicial accountability, and societal commitment, girls like Maria will continue to pay the heaviest price. Their safety, dignity, and rights cannot wait. The nation’s promise of justice must reach its most vulnerable, or risk betraying the values it claims to uphold.