Pakistan court grants custody of Christian girl to accused kidnapper

Human rights activists and the family of a 13-year-old Christian girl are protesting a Pakistani court ruling in Faisalabad, Punjab. The case involves Amber Nadeem, who was allegedly kidnapped by Mohsin Liaqat on June 12, forcibly converted to Islam, and married.

The legal dispute centers on Amber's age. While the defense presented documents claiming she was born in June 2008, making her 18, her family disputes these records, noting that her parents did not marry until 2012. Activists from organizations such as ‘Voice of Justice’ and ‘Minorities Alliance Pakistan’ have raised concerns that the girl was pressured by Liaqat's family to claim she was an adult.

On July 25, a higher court accepted a written statement from Amber claiming her conversion and marriage were voluntary. Following this statement, Judge Rana Sohail granted Liaqat bail and allowed Amber to go with him. Activists have questioned the validity of this statement, alleging that legal counsel for the defense may have warned the girl of consequences if she retracted her claims.