How Our Organization Rescued Christian Girl Shabana Bibi from Forced Marriage and Kidnapping in Pakistan

Shabana Bibi, a 21-year-old Christian girl, lost her father and is now being raised by her mother, who works as a housemaid to support the family. With limited financial means, Shabana began working at a factory in her community to help provide for her family.

Unfortunately, her supervisor, Muhammad Asif, discovered her Christian faith and began harassing her for a romantic and sexual relationship. Despite her refusal, Asif, who was the same age as her father, threatened to kill her if she did not comply and forced her to marry him. Fearing for her safety, Shabana was forced to quit her job at the factory.

One day, while at home, Shabana was kidnapped by Asif and his friends and taken to a village where she was detained for hours. Asif then appeared with a Muslim cleric and more friends, and forced her to sign documents and convert to Islam. When she refused, Asif brutally beat her until she lost consciousness.

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When she awoke, she found herself without clothes and Asif informed her that she was now his legal wife, as her thumbprints were on the documents and marriage certificate. After three days of abuse and violence, Shabana managed to escape and return to her mother’s home in Lahore.

However, Asif and his associates followed her, claiming that she had stolen jewelry and fled their home. The local community, aware of her disappearance, supported Shabana and threatened Asif to leave her alone. Asif then filed a false police report against her, and she was arrested without proper investigation.

With the help of a local pastor, Shabana reached out to our organization for legal assistance. Our team quickly intervened, successfully obtaining bail for her and having the false marriage contract annulled in court. However, as Shabana was still in danger from Asif, our organization arranged for her and her family to be relocated to a safe location.

The forced marriage and abduction of Christian girls and women is a prevalent and ongoing issue in Pakistan, and the government has failed to protect its religious minorities. We call on the international community to speak out and support these oppressed individuals.