Summary
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has raised concerns about forced conversions of Christian and Hindu girls to Islam in Pakistan. They reported cases where underage girls have been forcibly married and converted, recommending that the U.S. continue to classify Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations. Despite legal actions in Islamabad, the issue persists in other parts of the country.
Key Facts
- The USCIRF reported forced conversions and marriages of minority girls in Pakistan.
- Their 2026 report highlights concerns about child marriages related to these conversions.
- They cited examples of young Christian and Hindu girls allegedly converted and married by force.
- Pakistan passed a law in Islamabad in May 2025 to curb child marriages, setting the legal marriage age at 18.
- This law only applies to the capital, leaving other regions without the same protections.
- Religious political groups in Pakistan opposed the new child marriage law.
- The USCIRF recommends keeping Pakistan labeled as a Country of Particular Concern, which affects U.S.-Pakistan relations.
- Pakistani officials deny forced conversions, calling them against Islamic teachings, but concerns remain from international bodies.
