Two Christian girls kidnapped from their families in Faisalabad, Pakistan, have been forcibly converted to Islam and married to strangers.
After kidnapping the girls, the Muslim men reportedly delivered distorted marriage certificates to their families.
According to one of the certificates, 16 year-old Shamaila Tabassum was married 12 days before her disappearance. Her lawyer, however, has asserted that the dates mentioned in the marriage certificate are falsified as Tabassum was still at home at the time.
The other certificate distorts the age of Zunaira Rasheed as 18, while her actual age is 11.
Abida, Rasheed’s mother, after being informed of her daughter’s kidnapping, paid 12,000 Pakistani Rupees (£100) to men who promised to help trace her daughter.
"Since my daughter was engaged, I didn’t want the police and relatives to know the matter,” she said. “Unfortunately, I found out too late that those men who offered help only wanted my money – which I got with great difficulty, selling all I have."
The police have reportedly been negligent and slow to act, prompting the girls’ lawyer to file a case against the officers in Punjab city of Faisalabad last week.
Khalil Tahir, a prominent Christian lawyer and chairman of free legal aid organisation Adal Trust, warned that Christians in the country are frequently abused and tortured.
"Although we try to aid the victim's families, offering legal and practical help, the government must curb and stop the issue using," he said.
Muslims make up around 97 per cent of Pakistan’s people, while Hindus make up 1.5 per cent, and Christians 1.7 per cent. According to International Christian Concern, Christian girls are frequently kidnapped, raped, molested, converted and in some cases killed by Muslims.
Although complaints have been registered with the police, they reportedly do not take effective action against the assailants.
