Yet Another Girl In Pakistan Abducted, Forcibly Converted And Forcibly ‘Married’ To Her Abductor

[Lincoln]

Yet Another Girl In Pakistan Abducted, Forcibly Converted And Forcibly ‘Married’ To Her Abductor

Ewelina U. OchabContributor
Policy

At the end of April 2020, a 14 year old Christian girl, Myra Shehbaz, was reportedly abducted and forced to marry in Faisalabad, Punjab. According to International Christian Concern, “Myra Shehbaz was abducted by a group of Muslim men led by Muhammad Naqash. Eye witnesses claim that Myra was attacked while she was traveling to her workplace as a domestic worker on Sunday afternoon. Pervez Masih, Younas Masih, and Naeem Masih, the eye witnesses, claimed that Myra’s abductors forced her into a car and that Myra tried to resist. These eye witnesses were unable to help Myra because abductors were armed and fired several shots into the air.” Myra’s mother, Nighat, told International Christian Concern that she feared her daughter would be “raped, forcefully converted toIslam, or even killed.”

Stock photo. A Pakistani bride during a mass-wedding ceremony in Karachi on late March 24, 2014. ... [+]
AFP/Getty Images
Unfortunately, her concerns are not farfetched. According to the Movement for Solidarity and Peace (MSP), a human rights organization in the country, around 1,000 Christian and Hindu women and girls are kidnapped each year, forced to convert and marry Muslim men. The victims are usually between the ages of 12 and 25. Despite these shocking statistics, the number of victims may be even higher as many cases remain unreported, often due to the girls’ families limited financial means.

As recently as March, I wrote about the case of another Christian girl, Huma Younus, 14 years old at the time of her abduction. Huma was allegedly abducted from her parents’ home in Karachi on October 10, 2019, by a man named Abdul Jabbar of Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab Province. Other known cases from recent years include a Christian girl, Mehwish, who was kidnapped when she was just 14. It was reported that the police have not taken appropriate steps to investigate her case or attempt to rescue her. The same is true in the case of a 13-year-old Christian girl, Sana John. Two teenage girls, Farzana and Sehrish, aged 14 and 16 respectively, were abducted and subjected to gang rape perpetrated by three Muslim men. Despite the fact that one of the perpetrators was apprehended, the family was pressured to settle the case outside of court. Similarly, the case of Maria Sarfraz, an 11-year-old girl abducted and gang-raped for three days, was forcibly settled out of court.

Considering the damning data from MSP, there are many more stories like these, which are yet to be heard.

The latest information in the case of Myra Shehbaz suggests that she was forcibly converted and married to her abductors. Although a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) certificate has been produced confirming her age, a marriage certificate contradicts this, stating her age as 18. A typed statement was also produced, allegedly made by her, stating that she left her home and married willingly. The case is yet to proceed through the courts. However, this does not mean that justice will be served and the girl will be reunited with her family. Indeed, the reports suggest a variety of approaches to such cases concerning abducted, forced conversion and forced marriages.

For example, in the case of Huma Younus, despite Huma being under age, her conversion and marriage were not invalidated by court. The case is to proceed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

In another case, Nasira v Judicial Magistrate, the Lahore High Court recognized that an under age girl lacks legal capacity to convert. In the case, Nasira, a Christian woman, has filed a petition for her minor daughter Pumy Muskan to be recovered from the alleged illegal custody of people (referred to in the judgment as the Respondent No. 5 & 6) and dealt with in accordance with law. Respondent No. 5 & 6 employed the 14-year-old girl, Pumy Muskan, as part of a household. After a few months, when the mother went to meet Pumy Muskan, Respondents No.5 & 6 told her that Pumy Muskan was with the sister of Respondent No.5 in another city and, having embraced Islam, did not want to see her mother any more. After a lengthy legal battle, ultimately, the Lahore High Court decided that “Pumy Muskan is barely 14 years old. As she is not sui juris she lacks legal capacity to change religion on her own. However, the question of faith being a matter of heart and one’s conviction, no Court can declare her conversion invalid or void. It can only refuse to recognize or give effect to it for certain legal purposes. The Petitioner being the lawful guardian of Pumy Muskan is entitled to her custody. There is no reason to deprive her of that right.”


Many such cases, of women and girls being abducted, forcibly converted, forcibly ‘married’ and abused by their abductors, continue to be neglected by the police and the justice system. This only allows further crimes to be committed. Every child deserves a normal childhood. Every girl deserves to be a child and to be afforded the opportunity to flourish. Pakistan needs to step up its approach of dealing with such cases and ensure proper investigations and prosecutions of the perpetrators and reunification of the children with their parents. However, a change in society is also required so that abduction of a child, forced conversion and forced marriage are considered abhorrent. There is still a long way to go.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelin...onverted-and-forcibly-married-to-her-abductor

 

[Lincoln]

Is Government of Pakistan seated in the Pakistani Parliament or the Indian Parliament. Everyday they're taking irrelevant notice of Indian Muslims, when will they take notice of their own people, will they even? Getting tired of this Government and its' obsession with India day-by-day. But as Allah says, the kind of people are of a nation, the same kind of leader they will get. Pakistani people are more concerned about what's happening in other countries than their own; Afghanistan, Israel, India, Syria, European Nations... why can't we give ****s about our country for once.

Then comes in its useless ministers. The Science Minister is already a joke, but so is the Human Rights Minister a joke, literally there for no reason except a loud speaker to speak back to those pointing out daylight irregularities in human rights situation, she always goes about 'What about this,' 'What about them.'

 

[Gentelman]

Is the forcable conversion allowed by Islam and is there any Islamic legal value of such marriages?
No....
The marriage doesn't occur until the girl do agrees. If there is any such issue, government should act swuftly arresting those islamic clerks involved in such illegal nikkahs (if that's the case). Also we have to see if the number 1000 cases per year is based on the girl's parents reports solely or the girls were also interviewed as reporting abduction when girl did the marriage by choice is also common practice.

 

[HRK]

The marriage doesn't occur until the girl do agrees. If there is any such issue, government should act swuftly arresting those islamic clerks involved in such illegal nikkahs (if that's the case). Also we have to see if the number 1000 cases per year is based on the girl's parents reports solely or the girls were also interviewed as reporting abduction when girl did the marriage by choice is also common practice.

source itself is dubious and biased so applying logic in this news article is itself illogical ....

 

[Lincoln]

source itself is dubious and biased so applying logic in this news article is itself illogical ....

Lets count how many cases have appeared in the last 6 months.

Is the forcable conversion allowed by Islam and is there any Islamic legal value of such marriages?
No....
The marriage doesn't occur until the girl do agrees. If there is any such issue, government should act swuftly arresting those islamic clerks involved in such illegal nikkahs (if that's the case). Also we have to see if the number 1000 cases per year is based on the girl's parents reports solely or the girls were also interviewed as reporting abduction when girl did the marriage by choice is also common practice.

Underage, doesn't matter.

 

[truthfollower]

" Convert to Islam or face the consequences" No other option

 

[HRK]

Lets count how many cases have appeared in the last 6 months.

you do it, I am not interested in this useless debate .... but plz include those case well where girls in court plead their kidnap, force conversion or return to their parent .....

 

[Path-Finder]

peepee is in power in sindh and I am hearing alarming things peepee is doing to damage Pakistan! nothing new for this curse called peepee. The other thing I hear is Karachi is being choked because it will directly effect Pakistan economy.

 

[Lincoln]

you do it, I am not interested in this useless debate .... but plz include those case well where girls in court plead their kidnap, force conversion or return to their parent .....

Ofcourse, it's useless for you. People here care more about some freaking Indians protesting in Delhi.
And yes, these cases obviously get pleaded in court. But here's the underlying question... how many of these see actual justice, and why do cases even need to be transferred to higher courts? Obviously because there's a problem in lower courts who let these underage, and kidnap cases through!

We have had more than enough viral cases on the news in the last year to know that it's a problem... and this is not counting cases which do not reach to courts, and which do not reach to the media... which there are always some.

So obviously there is a problem, and it needs to be addressed. Is there rocket science in this? What part of this is unreliable information to you? Please tell.

peepee is in power in sindh and I am hearing alarming things peepee is doing to damage Pakistan! nothing new for this curse called peepee. The other thing I hear is Karachi is being choked because it will directly effect Pakistan economy.

They're part of the problem, absolutely. They need to address feudalism, poverty and education which they haven't and only looted. But the Federal Government also should be playing its part. Ministry of Human Rights is there for a reason, not to turn back letters by Amnesty International or such telling them to worry about other countries, or take concern about human right issues in other countries. It's almost childish! "That kid did it too! Tell him off first!"

 

[Path-Finder]

They're part of the problem, absolutely. They need to address feudalism, poverty and education which they haven't and only looted. But the Federal Government also should be playing its part. Ministry of Human Rights is there for a reason, not to turn back letters by Amnesty International or such telling them to worry about other countries. It's almost childish! "That kid did it too! Tell him off first!"

18th amendment is the first roadblock! peepee in its form is incompetent, crooked hellbent on banditry even in this difficult time. as for the fed gov minister for human rights well I agree she is not doing her job.

but some cases in the past after the massive hype turned out to be moot. some not so.

 

[Pakistansdefender]

Yet Another Girl In Pakistan Abducted, Forcibly Converted And Forcibly ‘Married’ To Her Abductor

Ewelina U. OchabContributor
Policy

At the end of April 2020, a 14 year old Christian girl, Myra Shehbaz, was reportedly abducted and forced to marry in Faisalabad, Punjab. According to International Christian Concern, “Myra Shehbaz was abducted by a group of Muslim men led by Muhammad Naqash. Eye witnesses claim that Myra was attacked while she was traveling to her workplace as a domestic worker on Sunday afternoon. Pervez Masih, Younas Masih, and Naeem Masih, the eye witnesses, claimed that Myra’s abductors forced her into a car and that Myra tried to resist. These eye witnesses were unable to help Myra because abductors were armed and fired several shots into the air.” Myra’s mother, Nighat, told International Christian Concern that she feared her daughter would be “raped, forcefully converted toIslam, or even killed.”

Stock photo. A Pakistani bride during a mass-wedding ceremony in Karachi on late March 24, 2014. ... [+]
AFP/Getty Images
Unfortunately, her concerns are not farfetched. According to the Movement for Solidarity and Peace (MSP), a human rights organization in the country, around 1,000 Christian and Hindu women and girls are kidnapped each year, forced to convert and marry Muslim men. The victims are usually between the ages of 12 and 25. Despite these shocking statistics, the number of victims may be even higher as many cases remain unreported, often due to the girls’ families limited financial means.

As recently as March, I wrote about the case of another Christian girl, Huma Younus, 14 years old at the time of her abduction. Huma was allegedly abducted from her parents’ home in Karachi on October 10, 2019, by a man named Abdul Jabbar of Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab Province. Other known cases from recent years include a Christian girl, Mehwish, who was kidnapped when she was just 14. It was reported that the police have not taken appropriate steps to investigate her case or attempt to rescue her. The same is true in the case of a 13-year-old Christian girl, Sana John. Two teenage girls, Farzana and Sehrish, aged 14 and 16 respectively, were abducted and subjected to gang rape perpetrated by three Muslim men. Despite the fact that one of the perpetrators was apprehended, the family was pressured to settle the case outside of court. Similarly, the case of Maria Sarfraz, an 11-year-old girl abducted and gang-raped for three days, was forcibly settled out of court.

Considering the damning data from MSP, there are many more stories like these, which are yet to be heard.

The latest information in the case of Myra Shehbaz suggests that she was forcibly converted and married to her abductors. Although a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) certificate has been produced confirming her age, a marriage certificate contradicts this, stating her age as 18. A typed statement was also produced, allegedly made by her, stating that she left her home and married willingly. The case is yet to proceed through the courts. However, this does not mean that justice will be served and the girl will be reunited with her family. Indeed, the reports suggest a variety of approaches to such cases concerning abducted, forced conversion and forced marriages.

For example, in the case of Huma Younus, despite Huma being under age, her conversion and marriage were not invalidated by court. The case is to proceed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

In another case, Nasira v Judicial Magistrate, the Lahore High Court recognized that an under age girl lacks legal capacity to convert. In the case, Nasira, a Christian woman, has filed a petition for her minor daughter Pumy Muskan to be recovered from the alleged illegal custody of people (referred to in the judgment as the Respondent No. 5 & 6) and dealt with in accordance with law. Respondent No. 5 & 6 employed the 14-year-old girl, Pumy Muskan, as part of a household. After a few months, when the mother went to meet Pumy Muskan, Respondents No.5 & 6 told her that Pumy Muskan was with the sister of Respondent No.5 in another city and, having embraced Islam, did not want to see her mother any more. After a lengthy legal battle, ultimately, the Lahore High Court decided that “Pumy Muskan is barely 14 years old. As she is not sui juris she lacks legal capacity to change religion on her own. However, the question of faith being a matter of heart and one’s conviction, no Court can declare her conversion invalid or void. It can only refuse to recognize or give effect to it for certain legal purposes. The Petitioner being the lawful guardian of Pumy Muskan is entitled to her custody. There is no reason to deprive her of that right.”


Many such cases, of women and girls being abducted, forcibly converted, forcibly ‘married’ and abused by their abductors, continue to be neglected by the police and the justice system. This only allows further crimes to be committed. Every child deserves a normal childhood. Every girl deserves to be a child and to be afforded the opportunity to flourish. Pakistan needs to step up its approach of dealing with such cases and ensure proper investigations and prosecutions of the perpetrators and reunification of the children with their parents. However, a change in society is also required so that abduction of a child, forced conversion and forced marriage are considered abhorrent. There is still a long way to go.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelin...onverted-and-forcibly-married-to-her-abductor

Those who abduct don't marry and of course the married woman don't stay with their occupiers and raise their children and follow their husbands forcefully. History shows us that no one can be forced. Islam is that kind of religion in which you cannot become Muslim even you practice Islam unless you accept it from heart.
These are the case of love marriages and then the parents insult their country by saying force conversion and stuff.
This is really really sad. Government should make a mechanism to check if it is love marriage or forced conversion because it is turning a big issue of national pride.

 

[HRK]

and why do cases even need to be transferred to higher courts? Obviously because there's a problem in lower courts who let these underage, and kidnap cases through!

and what is the result of higher courts .... ???

plz don't let yourself become a fool by media gimmick ....
just tell me have you ever hear or read any news article about any of the girls after court decision .... ???

or after their alleged kidnap and married life let say after 5-10 years .... ??? to highlight the their plight of 'after force marriage life' .... ???

why these news vanish after some of the hearings in courts even in those case which were contested in high courts .... ???

why NGOs and media dump them .... ????

How many cases of these victims decided by lower courts are challenged in High courts .... ???

and in how many cases respective High courts have given decision against lower court decision .... ???

Why pressure groups [which are nothing more the propaganda groups] don't pursue the cases of these victims in Supreme court .... ???

Why the cases of these victims don't win any support from their own religious and community leaders .... ???

and in the last have you check the basic source .... and are you aware about their media activities in regard of Pakistan .... ???

this is my last post on this thread don't drag me to your level of baseless emotional but illogical arguments like 'freaking Indians protesting in Delhi'....

Islam is that kind of religion

its not about religion .... its just about $ and political interests

 

[lightoftruth]

14 yrs old Christian girl......
Some sick people might still call it eloping as well.
Shameful !

 

[Cliftonite]

Is Government of Pakistan seated in the Pakistani Parliament or the Indian Parliament. Everyday they're taking irrelevant notice of Indian Muslims, when will they take notice of their own people, will they even? Getting tired of this Government and its' obsession with India day-by-day. But as Allah says, the kind of people are of a nation, the same kind of leader they will get. Pakistani people are more concerned about what's happening in other countries than their own; Afghanistan, Israel, India, Syria, European Nations... why can't we give ****s about our country for once.

Then comes in its useless ministers. The Science Minister is already a joke, but so is the Human Rights Minister a joke, literally there for no reason except a loud speaker to speak back to those pointing out daylight irregularities in human rights situation, she always goes about 'What about this,' 'What about them.'

The Islamisation of Zia essentially made religion trump nationalism. Hence an aasteen ka saamp Palestinian ya Afghani ek Pakistani Hindu ya 'Masih' se ziada azeez hai humare leaders ko.

We have failed our minorities.

 

[BATMAN]

14 yrs old Christian girl......
Some sick people might still call it eloping as well.
Shameful !

How come Indian news paper missed it?
NADRA computer will not accept 14 years bride and when the marriage is not registered in NADRA computer, it's not marriage and result of having extra martial sexual relations with underage girl would amount to pedophilia and the punishment is death penalty, now who would dare to celebrate pedophilia with a Christian minority who are protected and connected with all European and American embassies.

The Islamisation of Zia essentially made religion trump nationalism. Hence an aasteen ka saamp Palestinian ya Afghani ek Pakistani Hindu ya 'Masih' se ziada azeez hai humare leaders ko.

We have failed our minorities.

No surprise to see Zia obsession on pdf and as usual baseless blame game.