National protests have forced the Government of Pakistan to review a court decision which sent a 13-year-old Christian girl back to live with the man who abducted her.
The recent ruling by a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on 25 March 2026 to return a Christian girl to her abductor sparked national protests in Pakistan and has led to the government forming a 37-member national consultative committee, including Catholic and Protestant bishops, to review the case and propose safeguards against forced conversions and marriages.
The backlash happened after the court rejected a petition filed by the father of 13-year-old Maria Shahbaz stating that his daughter was abducted in July 2025, forcibly converted to Islam, and married. For months he and his wife fought to get their daughter back, but the ruling in March shattered their hopes of being reunited.
Christian rights advocates and civil society groups strongly condemned the verdict by the FCC saying that the court disregarded key evidence and prior findings indicating that the marriage was unlawful.
Open Doors Advocacy spokesperson shares, “Praise God for the body of Christ in Pakistan. Their courage in standing for vulnerable girls is a clear call for the global Church to rise, both in voice and in prayer.
“We urge the Government of Pakistan to take immediate action to protect all minors, regardless of religion or belief. A judgment of this nature from a constitutional court sets a deeply concerning precedent and risks shaping similar decisions in lower courts. We call for urgent justice and continue to pray for protection, accountability, and decisive action. Any delay will leave more girls at risk of forced conversion and sexual abuse.”
Please join the Christian community in Pakistan in praying for Maria Shahbaz and her family.
Please pray:
- Pray that the national committee has the power and will to make positive changes.
- Pray that the court ruling will be reversed and that Maria can return to her family.
- Pray that recent new laws to restrict marriage to women 18 years and above is legally enforced.
- Pray for a societal change that sees child marriage as detrimental to the well-being and future prospects of girls.
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
