Alina Imran_ Abduction and Forced Marriage of Christian Girl in Pakistan

1. Alina Imran: Abduction and Forced Marriage of Christian Girl in Pakistan Farrukh Saif August 15, 2024 The abduction and forced conversion of Christian girls and women in Pakistan is a deeply troubling issue that has garnered international condemnation. The case of Alina Imran, a 16-year-old Christian girl, highlights the severity and persistence of this problem. Alina Imran, a 16-year-old Christian girl, was abducted and forcibly married to a Muslim man, Muhammad Rizwan. Imran Bloch is a Christian living in Bahira Town, Islamabad, Pakistan, with his wife and children, where the couple works as domestic workers.

2. On July 28, 2024, Imran reported to the police station that when he and his wife returned home, they found their daughter Alina was missing. After asking the neighbors, they discovered that nearby meat vendor Muhammad Rizwan, along with three other Persons, had abducted Alina at gunpoint and taken her to the Sargodha district. Although the police registered FIR 455/24, no arrests were made, and the police investigation officer fully supported the accused abductors. Later, the police provided the parents with documents of an Islamic marriage, claiming their daughter had married Muhammad Rizwan willfully. However, the documents are forged, as Alina was abducted on July 28, 2024, while the marriage certificate is dated July 22, 2024, proving the documents are fraudulent. The police pressured the Christian family to withdraw their FIR, but the family is determined to retrieve their underage daughter. Our Action: To seek justice, the family reached out to us (ECSPE) for help in rescuing their daughter, Alina Imran. Yesterday, our team contacted high-ranking police officials to take action against all involved in this crime. Today, we have filed a petition against the abductor and his associates. We hope that, like many other girls we have rescued, we will also be able to rescue this Christian girl. Forced Conversions And Marriages: The issue of forced conversions and marriages is not isolated to Alina’s case. It is part of a broader pattern affecting religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly Christians and Hindus.

3. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned these practices, emphasizing that young women and girls from minority communities are vulnerable to forced religious conversion, abduction, trafficking, and sexual violence. The UN has called on Pakistan to uphold its international obligations and enforce laws to protect these communities. The situation in Pakistan reflects a broader global issue, where girls from minority religions face heightened risks of forced marriage and conversion. Many Advocacy groups continue to push for legal reforms, including setting a uniform minimum age for marriage, to prevent these abuses. Original source:https://ecspe.org/alina-imran-abduction-and-forced-marriage-of-chri stian-girl-in-pakistan/