Faiza’s mother claims that the police did not cooperate with her family and refused to register a case against the principal for kidnapping their daughter.

In another incident, Maham, a four-year-old Christian girl, and her mother, Sobia, were forced to convert to Islam in Kasur. In a video also posted to Facebook, Sobia claimed, “My in-laws were forcefully converted and pressurized to motivate me and my minor daughter to convert. However, I refused to embrace Islam.”

“They asked me to give my thumb impression on a piece of blank paper but I said, ‘Never in my life,’” Sobia continued. “Then my four-year-old daughter was kidnapped and her thumb impression was forcibly placed on a religious conversion certificate.”

Samra Munir, a 14-year-old girl, was the third victim of abduction and forced conversion in September. She was forcibly converted to Islam and then married off to Muhammad Ramiz, a Muslim man, on September 16 in Faisalabad.

When Samra’s father, Munir Masih, went to the police station to file a complaint, police officers reportedly refused to file the report. Abdul Rasheed, the investigation officer, used abusive language against the Christian family. Though the authorities eventually accepted the testimony, no action has been taken against the known captors.

Seeking an outlet for the injustice done to them, many Christians have turned to social media to raise awareness. Without the support of the Pakistani authorities, Christians feel dejected in their efforts to protect their youth.

“This trend is becoming alarming for the Christians in Pakistan and bringing a bad name to the country,” Nadeem told ICC. “The parliament must come up with sincere legislation to curb forced conversions and protect religious minorities.”

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