Forced religious conversion in Pakistan
In Pakistan, girls that are part of the religious minority in Pakistan are abducted and forced to change their religion to Islam, usually followed by getting into a forced marriage.[1][2] Most of the girls that are affected come from Hindu and Christian communities[3] with many victims reported to be under the age of 18,[4] including documented cases of children as young as 12.[5]
Causes
[change | change source]Many people are forced to convert to Islam because it is a common belief in Pakistan that marriages under 16 are acceptable according to Sharia law if both of the people getting married are Muslim.[5] According to some child protection activists, some conversions are part of a moneymaking scheme which include Islamic clerics who perform the marriages, with corrupt police officers who help the culprits by refusing to do a investigation or sabotaging investigations that are happening.[6]
However, some people convert to avoid discrimination or economic troubles.[7]
See also
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ Javaid, Maham. "Pakistan, Hindus, Forced Conversions, Islam". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
- ↑ "Stories of forced conversion in Pakistan". BBC News. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
- ↑ "Pakistan's 'child brides': How forced conversion targets mostly teenage, Hindu girls". Firstpost. April 23, 2026.
- ↑ Ochab, Dr Ewelina U. "The Disappearing Religious Minority Women And Girls In Pakistan". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
- 1 2 "Abducted, shackled and forced to marry at 12". www.bbc.com. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
- ↑ Gannon, Kathy (28 December 2020). "Each year, 1,000 Pakistani girls forcibly converted to Islam". abc news. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021.
- ↑ Abi-Habib, Maria; ur-Rehman, Zia (2020-08-04). "Poor and Desperate, Pakistani Hindus Accept Islam to Get By". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-04-27.