The European Parliament condemned Pakistan on July 7 for its violation of human rights, citing a 13-year-old Christian Pakistani girl who is still fighting for her freedom from the 30-year-old Muslim man who abducted her. 

Maria Shahbaz was kidnapped in July 2025 by Shehryar Ahmad, who forced her to convert to Islam and married her against her will. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) came alongside her parents in their fight to regain custody of their child in Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court in February. Pakistani law states that a minor cannot legally consent to conversion or marriage, but the court ruled in favor of Ahmad when he presented a forged marriage certificate. 

Shahbaz’s parents are not giving up. They are still appealing their daughter’s case in court, hoping that justice will swiftly come. 

“Maria is only 13 years old, yet she has been through more than any child should ever have to face,” ADF’s Asia Director of Advocacy Tehmina Arora said. “The court must now do what is right by granting her freedom and establishing a precedent that will protect vulnerable young girls from these horrific acts.” 

One of Many

Shahbaz is one of thousands of girls in her country who were forced to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim. 

“This is not just about Maria, though Maria’s situation is urgent and she must be brought home. This ruling, if it stands, will further erode the confidence of the minority communities in the justice system. This review petition is an opportunity for the court to relook at their previous order and implement the law,” said Lazar Allah Rakha, a lawyer. 

There is hope for these girls. In April, new legislation was passed — the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026 — which raised the minimum age for marriage to 18 years. The decision came as many world leaders have condemned Pakistan for its failure to address child marriages. 

Most recently, the European Parliament addressed the country’s actions in a broader discussion about human rights violations in Sudan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Members of the Parliament (MEPs) highlighted Shahbaz’s case and condemned “similar abuses committed against underage girls belonging to religious minorities, underlining that her case is emblematic of broader human rights violations faced by minorities in Pakistan.” 

MEPs urged Pakistan to enforce its recent law and bring justice for these girls and their families. 

“Parliament urges Pakistan’s authorities to fully implement the country’s national framework to end child marriage, as is already the case in some provinces of the country, and create a national mechanism for handling complaints from families of abducted or forcibly converted girls from minorities,” the Parliament stated. “The perpetrators must be prosecuted, Pakistan’s judicial framework strengthened, and abducted girls must be able to return safely.” 

Story by Bella Agnello 

To read more news stories, visit the ICC Newsroom. For interviews, please email us. To support ICC’s work around the world, please give to our Where Most Needed Fund.