April 21, 2026
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
A report investigating forced conversions and marriages of minority girls and women in Pakistan, particularly Christian girls, that have taken place between 2021 and 2025, has been released by the National Commission for Justice and Peace.
The document called “Captive Souls: The Untold Story of Pakistan’s Minority Girls” details the harrowing way in which these minor girls were abducted, sexually abused, and forced into marriage and conversion of their religious beliefs.
The report – compiled by Ataurehman Saman & Behram Francis – highlighted that the government of Pakistan has been a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) since 2010.
Article 18 (2) of this convent says, “No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to adopt a religion or belief of his choice. “while Article 20 (A) of the constitution of Pakistan guarantees that “subject to law, public order, and morality, every citizen shall have the right to profess, practice and propagate his religion.
Despite this, there is no law in the country which criminalizes forced conversion as such. NCJP’s Naeem Yousaf Gill who supervised the report says that the first critical step toward addressing the issue must be the government’s formal acknowledgment that these practices exist.
“Only then can the state earnestly tackle the problem through comprehensive legislation designed to protect the rights of religious minorities, particularly girls and women,” he said. “Such legislation should incorporate several essential safeguards: ensuring due process in all conversion cases, establishing a minimum age requirement for religious conversion, and imposing strict penalties for those who use coercion or force.”
He added that the legislation should mandate independent verification of conversions, provide shelter and legal aid for victims, and establish specialized courts to handle such cases expeditiously. “There must be robust mechanisms for monitoring and enforcement, along with awareness campaigns to educate communities about the legal protections available to minorities,” he said with regard to the situation.
When conversion is not a voluntary act
The report specified that forced conversion is always carried out through coercion, including pressure, threats of violence or harm, intimidation, and deceptive practices. In many cases, individuals are compelled to convert in order to escape discrimination, violence, or social marginalization, or to resolve economic pressures such as debt.
Fraudulent methods are also used to manipulate and mislead individuals into converting to Islam. Forced conversion is rooted in a range of systemic issues, including social exclusion, economic vulnerability, weak legal protection, and political isolation. These conditions create an environment in which marginalized communities—particularly religious minorities—are more susceptible to coercion and exploitation.
Historically, this practice has been used across cultures and religions as a tool for persecution, control, and exploitation, leaving lasting psychological, social, and communal harm. Forced conversion is not a voluntary step. It is carried out through pressure, threats of violence or harm, or other forms of intimidation. A host of systematic issues can be traced as the roots of forced conversion. Individuals might be forced to convert to avoid discrimination, violence or settle down a loan, etc., fraud means are also observed to trick individuals to convert into Islam.
Key aspects of forced conversion in Pakistan
The situation of forced conversion in Pakistan can be examined through the following interrelated aspects
- Vulnerability of children: Children are particularly at risk due to their inability to consent, and many cases involve sexual violence and forced marriages.
- Adolescence: Adolescents may be targeted due to emotional instability, lack of awareness of rights, and dependence on family or community structures. They are also often groomed into believing that conversion through marriage especially would change their socio economic circumstances too.
- Rebellion and social pressure: In some cases, conversions are framed as acts of rebellion, while underlying coercion, manipulation, or fear remains present.
- Gender-specific vulnerabilities: Girls and women face heightened risks during stages of risk-taking or social transition and are frequently exploited by predators due to entrenched gender inequalities.
Reasoning and approach
Data was collected through NCJP’s seven regional offices, focusing on post-marriage circumstances, family dynamics, social integration, economic status, and decision-making authority.Ten representative case studies were selected for in-depth analysis including cases of Farah Shaheen, Afia Masih, Mehwish Razzaq, Saba Shafiq and others all from various districts of Punjab.
These cases highlight the vulnerability of children and adolescents, the gender-specific risks for girls and women, the exploitation during periods of social transition or rebellion.
Abduction, sexual violence, and forced marriage of underage girls is a major part of forced conversions as is the use of fraudulent documents and manipulation by perpetrators.
In addition girls face social stigma and rejection by both the new (Muslim) comunities which they must enter as well as their original communities. Meanwhile institutional failures highlight the cases including inefficiency and negligence by police, courts, and clerics who often facilitate or ignore abuses. Examples include Muskan Liaquat: Kidnapped, forcibly converted, and sexually assaulted for two years before escaping, Noureen, Sheza, Shama Naz, Saba Shafiq, Mehwish, and Aafia: Each case highlights different aspects of coercion, abuse, and systemic neglect.
There is also no comprehensive official data on forced conversions; cases are often misclassified under other legal categories (e.g., kidnapping, rape, child marriage).
Survivors face psychological trauma, social isolation, and long-term marginalization. Legal loopholes and selective application of laws allow perpetrators to act with impunity. Religious clerics and elements within the administration, police, and judiciary often protect perpetrators.
Social and psychological impact
Victims are told they are unmarriageable and that returning to their original faith is punishable by death, creating psychological barriers to escape. Families often refuse to accept victims back due to stigma and fear.
Recommendations
NCJP has given the following recommendations with regard to the forced conversions.
It demands the government establish a formal legal process for religious conversion, overseen by magistrates or commissioners; prohibit religious seminaries from independently issuing conversion certificates; require official legal channels. Enforcement of the minimum age of 18 for both conversion and marriage must be adhered to. Shelter homes and rehabilitation services for victims wishing to return to their original communities must be provided. Transparent, impartial investigations and consistent application of laws prohibiting underage marriage and forced conversion must be ensured.
The report urges the government to acknowledge the problem, enact comprehensive legislation, and implement robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. It calls for awareness campaigns and support services to protect minority girls and women.