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Mass protests broke out after a court ruling forced a girl to remain with the man whom her parents said forcibly converted and married her
People around the world were shocked by a recent court ruling in Pakistan.
On March 25, 2026, the country’s Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) 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. Unfortunately, this is not an unfamiliar situation in Pakistan—international media have documented the prevalence of abduction, forced marriage and compulsory conversion.
But the court ruled that the marriage was legal and that Maria needed to return to her “husband,” even though the legal age for girls in Maria’s part of Pakistan is 18. For months, Maria’s father and his wife fought to get their daughter back, but the ruling in March shattered their hopes of being reunited.
There was an immediate backlash. 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 the marriage was unlawful. The outcry was so great that the Pakistani government is forming a 37-member national consultative committee (including Catholic and Protestant bishops) to review the case and propose safeguards against forced conversions and marriages.
In a public statement, an Open Doors Advocacy spokesperson responded to the situation: “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.
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