She was forced to convert.
In another distressing case from Pakistan, a 14-year-old Christian girl named Alina Khalid has reportedly been abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to a 27-year-old butcher named Haider Ali. Khalid Masih, her father and a Catholic sanitation worker in Islamabad, recounted how Ali took Alina from their home in Khanna Pul on June 24. Despite filing a complaint with Khanna Police the same day, action was delayed until June 25, allowing the accused time to evade authorities.
The family learned of Alina’s forced conversion and marriage on June 27 after she allegedly testified in court, claiming she converted willingly and married Ali by choice. However, her father disputes this, citing Alina’s young age and lack of independent contact with Ali prior to her disappearance. He believes she was abducted for exploitation, a pattern seen with other kidnapped girls in Pakistan, where forced conversions and marriages often occur under the guise of Islamic legality.
The police’s delayed response and alleged inaction in locating Alina and arresting the suspect have compounded the family’s anguish. Masih’s wife, already battling Hepatitis C and diabetes, has seen her health deteriorate under the strain of their daughter’s abduction and uncertain fate.
Social activists like Safdar Chaudhry criticize the police for their slow response and call for legislative reforms to protect underage minority girls from such exploitation. They advocate for stricter laws to prevent underage marriages, as recently proposed in Punjab province, where legislation aims to raise the legal marriage age to 18 years and impose penalties on those arranging underage marriages.
Ejaz Alam Augustine, a Christian lawmaker, has been vocal about amending laws to safeguard minority girls who are vulnerable to forced conversions and marriages. He acknowledges the challenges in passing such reforms but remains determined to ensure that all girls, regardless of their faith, are protected under Pakistani law.
The case of Alina Khalid highlights broader concerns about religious minorities in Pakistan, where Christians face significant challenges and discrimination. The incident underscores the urgent need for legal protections and enforcement to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable girls and uphold their rights to safety and freedom of religion.