The international community must hold Pakistan to account for the kidnapping, sexual assault and forcible conversions of young girls of religious minorities, according to a leading human rights firm.

Tehmina Arora, Director of Advocacy, Asia for ADF International was commenting after a fourteen-year-old girl, Maira Shabbaz, and her family went into hiding after she escaped her abductor who had forcibly married her.

“While the deteriorating situation for Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan has been well documented, little action has been taken by local authorities, to protect their rights. In Pakistan, young Christian girls are abducted and converted through forcible marriage simply because of their faith. The case of Maira is a shocking example of these practices,” she said.

“The previous Lahore High Court ruling which ordered Maira to return to her abductors, endangered all Christian girls in the country. The government of Pakistan and the courts must protect the rights of minor girls who are being forced into these marriages”.

“We hope the international community will open its eyes to what is happening in Pakistan and help protect Christians and other minorities who belong to some of the most vulnerable groups in the country.”