A harrowing new report by Father Lazar Aslam, a Franciscan priest in Pakistan, has brought renewed attention to the plight of Christian girls and women in the country, documenting numerous cases of rape, abduction, and forced marriage. The report underscores the vulnerability of religious minorities—particularly Christians—who are frequently denied equal protection under Pakistani law.
The findings paint a disturbing picture of systemic abuse in a society where religious discrimination is entrenched and legal recourse for minority victims is limited. Christian families, often living in poverty and socially marginalized, face significant obstacles in seeking justice when their daughters are abducted or coerced into converting to Islam and marrying their captors.
In response to the report, Regina Lynch, Executive President of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and a native of Tyrone, Northern Ireland, emphasized the urgent need for international advocacy and structural reform in Pakistan to safeguard minority rights.
“Christians make up only 1.3% of the population of Pakistan and are often among the poorest and most neglected citizens,” Lynch said. “ACN has many projects in Pakistan and has repeatedly called attention to cases of discrimination, particularly those affecting young girls. We continue to call on all our friends and benefactors for prayers for these innocent victims.”
This latest report adds to a growing body of evidence from human rights organizations documenting widespread religious persecution in Pakistan. Many of these cases go uninvestigated, and victims are often pressured or threatened into silence. Legal mechanisms, though in place, are inconsistently enforced—especially when the victims come from Christian, Hindu, or other non-Muslim backgrounds.
International watchdogs, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and Amnesty International, have consistently cited Pakistan for its failure to uphold minority rights, particularly under laws that are misused to target religious minorities.
Faith-based NGOs like ACN continue to press the Pakistani government and the broader international community to strengthen legal protections and provide urgent support for minority communities, especially women and girls who are most at risk.
As the report by Fr Aslam gains wider attention, advocates hope it will galvanize both domestic and international efforts to address these human rights violations and bring justice to the victims.
