CV NEWS FEED // International Christian Concern (ICC) has praised a recent Pakistani court ruling that annulled the forced marriage and conversion of Shahida Bibi, calling the decision “a rare triumph” in the fight against the systemic persecution of religious minorities in the country.
Bibi was taken from her Christian family at the age of 11 after her mother eloped with a Muslim man, CatholicVote previously reported. She was later handed over to the man’s brother and, upon turning 18, was forced into an Islamic marriage — a move designed to circumvent Pakistan’s child marriage laws. She bore two children during her captivity.
Represented by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, Bibi won her case in a Pakistani civil court in Bahawalpur in February 2025, which ruled that her forced marriage was invalid and ordered her official records to reflect her true Christian identity.
ICC President Jeff King explained the significance of the ruling, noting that judges in Pakistan often face extreme pressure and threats from religious extremists when ruling in favor of Christian victims.
“This is a defining moment for Pakistan’s Christians,” King stated in an emailed press release.
He later added, “ICC applauds the Punjab court and its fearless judges, who’ve put themselves in the line of fire from radicals to deliver justice. This could spark real change for a community crying out for protection.”
Pakistan’s Christian minority faces ongoing persecution, compounded by the country’s notorious blasphemy laws, systemic discrimination, and judicial inaction. ADF International reported that each year, more than 1,000 Christian and Hindu girls are abducted, forcibly converted, and coerced into marriage.
“Shahida Bibi’s story — from abduction at 11 to freedom after years of torment — exposes the brutality these girls face,” King said in the press release.
While ICC and other advocates have celebrated the ruling as a step toward justice, they caution that deeper legal and societal reforms are still needed.
“One victory doesn’t erase decades of pain,” King said, “but it’s a crack in the wall of impunity.”
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