Catholic woman speaks out against surge in cases of girls in Pakistan forced to convert and marry their abductors

A CATHOLIC woman who fled Pakistan after receiving death threats has denounced the shocking scale of cases of girls as young as 13 suffering forced conversion, marriage and sexual violence. 

Ribqa Nevash condemned a landmark ruling by Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) – now under review – that allowed Maria Shahbaz, a Christian child bride, to remain married to a 30-year-old Muslim man.

Speaking at the WeBelieve Catholic festival at St Mary’s, Oscott, near Birmingham, Ms Nevash told a packed audience that every day there are reports of young Christian girls in Pakistan who are kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam and married to their abductors.

In April 2026, the UN expressed “serious concern” about abduction, forced conversion and marriage of women and girls from Christian and other religious minority faith communities saying cases may have doubled in a decade to up to 2,000 every year, according to The Voice of Pakistan Minorities, an advocacy body. 

Ribqa said: “Every day there are cases of forced conversions, but I want to mention the case of Maria Shahbaz.” 

She referred to a court ruling issued on 25th June 2026 which upheld the validity of the marriage between Maria to Shehryar Ahmad.

Ribqa said: “It happened in 2025. She was a 13-year-old girl and a 30-year-old man forcibly converted her, kidnapped her and married her.

“All the Christians sent a petition to the Pakistan Supreme Court saying, ‘This is really sad, you need to give the girl back.’

“She’s still in the custody of that man.”

Ribqa criticised recent legal developments which she said permit Muslim men to marry underage Christian girls.

She said: “After so many petitions were signed, they officially passed a bill in the federal court that from now on, if any Muslim man wants to marry a Christian girl, they can marry a 14, 15 or 16-year-old girl. 

“It is totally wrong….

“Our Christian boys and men are not allowed to marry them [Muslim girls], but Muslim men are allowed to marry our minor girls. They are so innocent if you see them.

“That’s why I am here – I don’t want any man to kidnap me or forcibly convert me.”

She added that many of the girls have to remain with the men they were forced to marry while their families struggle to seek justice.

“Those girls who are kidnapped and forcibly converted are still under the custody of these Muslim men. They are not mature enough for marriage.

“Their parents are crying. They are still looking for justice. They don’t have money to go to the police station every day or pay court costs. They belong to very poor families.”

During a question-and-answer session, an audience member asked whether Muslim men in Pakistan could convert to Christianity.

She responded highlighting the threat from militant groups and within family disputes adding: “No, if they do that, they will be killed.”

Ribqa, who faced persecution throughout her school days, fled Pakistan in 2023 after receiving death threats following an appearance on national television.

The 26-year-old, who received Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) (UK)’s Courage to be Christian Award in 2024, spoke about the attacks on Christians in Jaranwala on 16th August 2023, when mobs torched and ransacked more than 25 churches and at least 85 Christian homes in a single day.

Expressing frustration at the lack of accountability, she said little meaningful action had been taken against those responsible. To date no-one has been charged.

Ribqa urged festival-goers to sign ACN’s Article 18 Petition, which seeks to mobilise support for the protection of freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The campaign highlights the challenges faced by religious minorities in countries where persecution, discrimination and forced conversions are prevalent.