A 14-year-old Christian girl, Timar Shahzadi, was kidnapped by Muslim men in the twin cities of Islamabad/Rawalpindi on Monday, October 22, 2012, as she was returning from school.
Shamim Masih, a Assist News Service correspondent in Pakistan, said
that according to Pastor Farooq Sadique, the girl was with friends when
the abductors pounced and dragged her away.
Mr. Masih says that her family fear that
she could be "forcefully converted to become a Muslim and then married
off if immediate steps are not taken."
He went on to say that her family
reported the incident to the police station in Koral Police Station in
Islamabad, but police have not yet conducted any investigation.
"The poor family cannot afford the
expenses of the tribunal procedure and her father requested the higher
official to take care of her daughter's issue. He also requested the
human rights and women rights organization to help him in finding her
daughter," said Shamim Masih.
Her father, Amjid Masih, said that because the girl is still a minor, according to law "she is too young" to be married.
The practice of forced conversion and
forced marriage is widespread: rich and powerful Muslims take advantage,
especially in rural areas and girls are victims of religious
minorities.
According to Fides Agency, in Pakistan there are about 1,000 similar cases each year, against Christian and Hindu girls.
The agency added that to combat the
phenomenon, widely recognized by civil authorities, the "National
Commission for Religious Minorities" has prepared a draft law that
Christians support and hope that it may soon be considered by
Parliament.
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