They often say Sharia law applies only to Muslims. But when examined closely—especially in plural societies—the real-world consequences tell a far more troubling story. What unfolds is not harmony, justice, or moral order, but a pattern of legal chaos, institutional bias, and human suffering that disproportionately targets the most vulnerable: minority girls.
One of the most disturbing recent examples comes from Pakistan, where a federal court ruling has reignited national and international outrage over the abuse of religion, the collapse of child protection mechanisms, and the systemic failure of justice in cases involving forced conversion and child marriage.
A Case That Shook Consciences
In a ruling delivered this week, Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) handed custody of a 13-year-old Christian girl, Maria Shahbaz, to a 30-year-old Muslim man, Shehryar Ahmad, who had earlier been accused of kidnapping her, forcibly converting her to Islam, sexually assaulting her, and marrying her in August.
Maria’s parents were devastated.
The two-judge panel—Justice Karim Khan Agha and Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi—dismissed Maria’s official birth record and ignored prior court findings that declared the marriage illegal under Pakistani law. Instead, the judges accepted a statement attributed to the girl claiming she converted to Islam and married Ahmad of her own “free will.”
Her family and legal counsel insist that this statement was obtained under coercion.
Even more alarming was the atmosphere in which the ruling was delivered. According to eyewitness accounts, over 150 male relatives and supporters of the accused reportedly filled the courtroom, creating an environment of intimidation that human rights observers say made it impossible for the minor to testify freely or safely.
Ignored Evidence, Ignored Law
Maria’s parents’ lawyer expressed deep disappointment with the ruling, noting that the court rejected the girl’s official birth certificate (B-Form)—a legally recognized document confirming her age—and disregarded a sessions court order that had already established that the accused had contracted an illegal marriage with a minor.
“We were hopeful that the court would uphold documentary evidence and prior judicial findings,” the lawyer said. “Instead, the court chose to overlook these facts entirely.”
He further emphasized that Maria had remained in the custody of the accused for over six months, a critical factor that significantly increases the likelihood of psychological pressure, fear, and coercion.
“The judges should have taken into account the reality that a child in such circumstances is highly vulnerable and likely to give statements under duress,” he added. “The failure to provide a safe and neutral environment for her testimony is deeply troubling.”
A Father’s Account
Maria’s father recounted that the accused was their neighbor and allegedly abducted his daughter when she stepped outside their home to visit a nearby shop. What followed, he said, was a nightmare no parent should endure—months of uncertainty, court appearances, and repeated legal setbacks in a system that seemed stacked against them.
Their experience is far from unique.
A Recurring Pattern in Pakistan
Human rights organizations, both local and international, have long documented a disturbing and recurring pattern in Pakistan involving the abduction of minority girls—particularly Christians and Hindus—followed by forced religious conversion and so-called Islamic marriages.
In many reported cases:
Girls as young as 10 to 14 years old are abducted.
They are pressured or forced to convert to Islam.
They are married to much older men.
Statements “confessing” consent are recorded while the girls remain in the custody of their alleged abductors.
Courts frequently disregard documentary proof of age, including birth certificates.
Victims are returned to their abductors under the legal status of “wives.”
This pattern has drawn repeated criticism from international human rights bodies, religious freedom advocates, and legal experts who argue that the judiciary often defers to religious claims over constitutional protections and child welfare laws.
The Legal Contradictions at the Heart of the Crisis
The Maria Shahbaz case exposes deep contradictions within Pakistan’s legal framework.
In Punjab Province, where Maria is from, the legal minimum age of marriage for girls is 16. At the national level, the Christian Marriage (Amendment) Act 2024 raised the minimum marriageable age for Christians to 18 years, aligning with international child protection standards.
However, a legal loophole undermines these protections.
When a Christian girl is deemed to have converted to Islam—regardless of the circumstances—she is immediately treated as a Muslim under Sharia-based personal laws, which permit marriage at a younger age. This creates a dangerous incentive structure where abductors can bypass child marriage laws simply by claiming religious conversion.
Legal experts argue that this contradiction effectively rewards coercion, undermines minority rights, and erodes the rule of law.
When Sharia Is Used as a Shield
Supporters of such rulings often insist that Sharia applies only to Muslims. Yet in practice, cases like Maria’s demonstrate how non-Muslims are forcibly pulled under its scope, without consent, protection, or meaningful legal safeguards.
The result is not religious freedom, but legal discrimination—where minority status becomes a liability rather than a protected right.
Critics argue that this selective application of Sharia in civil matters creates parallel legal standards that privilege one religious identity over others, violating constitutional guarantees of equality and freedom of belief.
The Human Cost
Beyond legal debates and court rulings lies the most important issue: the child.
A 13-year-old girl, separated from her parents, deprived of education, safety, and childhood, and placed back into the custody of a man accused of serious crimes against her. Regardless of religious or legal arguments, child protection principles demand one basic standard: the best interest of the child.
Human rights advocates stress that no legal system committed to justice can ignore power imbalances, coercion, and fear—especially when children are involved.
Growing International Concern
Cases like Maria Shahbaz’s have increasingly attracted global attention, with advocacy groups urging Pakistan to:
Harmonize civil and religious laws with constitutional child protection standards.
Ensure that conversion claims by minors are independently verified in safe environments.
Guarantee minority families equal protection under the law.
Prevent courtroom intimidation and ensure witness safety.
Prioritize documentary evidence over contested verbal statements from vulnerable minors.
Without systemic reform, critics warn that such rulings will continue to fuel mistrust, deepen religious divisions, and damage Pakistan’s international human rights reputation.
A Broader Warning
The debate is no longer just about one case or one country. It raises a broader question relevant to any plural society: What happens when religious law overrides universal human rights, especially for those who did not choose that religion?
As this case shows, the consequences can be devastating—turning faith into a weapon, justice into a spectacle, and the law into a tool of oppression rather than protection.
And once again, it is a child who pays the price.
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