Center for Legal Aid, Assistance, and Settlement (CLAAS-UK) has issued an appeal for aid for a young Christian woman teacher who was abducted in Pakistan.
Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK, said there is a need for “international attention to address the ongoing persecution of religious minority girls” in the country.
“While both the Pakistani government and the courts are aware of this issue, the international community must play a more active role in ending their persecution,” he said.
On May 16, 2023, Adeeba Amjad, a young Christian female teacher was abducted from her home in Pak Colony, Baluchistan, according to CLAAS-UK.
The group said Adeeba worked as a teacher at a local private school in Hub, Baluchistan, owned by businessman Muhammad Bashir.
Bashir offered her positions within his other business after Adeeba lost her job due to the pandemic. However, she left her job after her parents arranged her engagement with a Christian young man in 2022.
CLAAS-UK reported that on May 16, Bashir “forcibly abducted” her from her home. Adeeba’s father, Amjad Masih, expressed shock at the court’s decision to deny Adeeba’s return home despite her desire to live with her parents, the group added.
Saeed expressed grave concerns over the judgment, emphasizing that judges should base their decisions solely on the law and merit.
Under questionable circumstances, the judge declared Adeeba married and ineligible to go back to her parents, citing the abductor’s affluent family background, according to Saeed.
“In Pakistan, a dire and distressing pattern has emerged within the legal system, where the rights and safety of Christian minor girls hang in the balance,” said Saeed.
“Cases of abduction and forced conversion, often followed by biased court rulings, have created a grave situation that demands international attention and action, casting a dark shadow over these young girls and their families as they grapple with injustice, persecution, and the persistent threat of harm,” he added.
