Forced Marriage in Pakistan

In the nation of Pakistan, it is not unusual for women, especially those of a minority faith, to be forcibly married against their will.  No woman in Pakistan is safe from this, not even underage children.  Although the nation passed the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act in 2014 to try and stop child marriage, Sharia Law, it is decreed that a woman can be legally married after their first menstrual cycle, which on averaged happens at the age of 12.  On Feb. 3rd, 2020, a High Court in Pakistan ruled in favor of Sharia Law and not the Child Marriage Restraint Act.  The ruling was made during the case of Huma Younus, a 14-year-old Catholic girl who was abducted by a Muslim man, forcibly converted, and pressured to marry him against her will.  In the court, Huma's parents produced her birth records and baptism certificate to prove that she was underage, but the court ruled in accordance to Sharia.  

 Huma's parents condemned this ungodly ruling, stating that it clearly proves that those of minority faith are not granted equal rights in Pakistan and the the passage of the Child Marriage Restraint Act was only for the purpose of making the nation of Pakistan look better in front of the International  Community.  Huma's parents are absolutely right in their condemnation of the High Court's Decision as Huma Younus is not the only victim.  Forced conversions to Islam are not unusual in Pakistan, nor are they illegal.  Many who are forcibly converted fear testifying in court as their abductors vow harsh retaliation against their families if they do so.  Such was the case for 15-year-old Hindu girl Mehak Kumari.  

Mehak Kumari and the Man Who Abducted Her

 In January of 2020 Mehak was also abducted, forcibly converted, and married against her will.  However, in her case the courts chose to abide by the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act.  The courts nullified her marriage, declared her conversion and marriage invalid, and released her.  Unfortunately this young girl's ordeal is not over.  Radial clerics throughout Pakistan are now demanding her death, stating that because she committed Apostasy from Islam (a Death Sentence under Sharia), that she must die.  She's currently in a women's shelter and she may never be safe again.  Human rights activists stated that the High Courts ruling in Huma Younus' case will encourage more abduction, forced marriage, and forced conversion throughout the nation.  If the courts will not uphold the Child Marriage Restraint Act, then there is nothing to legally dissuade Pakistani Muslim men from continuing this terrible human rights violation.  
Sources:

Caruso, Catherine.  "Pakistan Court Rules That Men Can Marry Underage Girls After They've Had Their First Period."  Global Citizen.  Feb. 11, 2020.  Accessed from  https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/pakistan-court-allows-men-to-marry-underage-girls/.

"Pakistani Clerics Demand Death for Minor Hindu Girl for Renouncing Islam After She was Abducted, Forcibly Converted, and Married to Muslim Man.  OpIndia.  Feb. 09, 2020.  Accessed from https://www.opindia.com/2020/02/pakistan-muslims-demand-death-hindu-girl-renounce-islam-abducted-converted/.

"Pakistan Court Nullifies Converted Minor Hindu Girl Mehak Kumari's Marriage."  OrissaPost.  Feb. 19, 2020.  Accessed from https://www.orissapost.com/pakistan-court-nullifies-converted-minor-hindu-girl-mehak-kumaris-marriage/.

Shiner, Fionn and Marta Petrosillo.  "Pakistan Court Rules Men Can Marry Underage Girls."  Independent Catholic News.  Feb. 05, 2020.  Accessed from  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/38862.

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