Pakistan urged to protect religious minority girls from forced conversion/marriage

July 14: Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and rights advocates urged Pakistan to strengthen protections underage Christian and Hindu girls and other religious minorities, frequently subject to forcible conversion to Islam and marriage to those who kidnap them.

Jointly hosted at the European Parliament by MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group and MEP Matej Tonin of the European People’s Party (EPP) Group, the event examined how the European Union (EU) can more systematically raise concerns over forced conversions, child marriage and the protection of religious minorities in its bilateral engagement with Pakistan, according to a press statement by Jubilee Campaign Netherlands.

Efforts by the EU to raise concerns include monitoring under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade framework, Jubilee noted.

The discussion followed the European Parliament’s July 9 adoption of a resolution on the case of Maria Shahbaz, a 13-year-old Christian girl allegedly abducted, forcibly converted and married, calling for stronger protections for girls in Pakistan.