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[INTERNATIONAL] · United States, Pakistan · 5 sources

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US lawmakers urge Pakistan to protect Christian woman after alleged abduction

A bipartisan group of United States lawmakers has called on the Pakistani government to protect Neha Faqir, an 18-year-old Christian woman who was allegedly abducted and forcibly converted to Islam.

Representative Chris Smith, co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, expressed concern over the case, noting it raises questions regarding religious freedom and the safety of minority women in Pakistan. In a letter sent on August 20 to Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Azam Nazeer Tarar, the 11 members of Congress urged the government to ensure a just resolution.

The lawmakers requested that Pakistani authorities use the judicial system to guarantee Ms. Faqir’s physical safety, provide her with confidential access to independent legal counsel, and allow her to communicate privately with her family. The group also emphasized that judicial proceedings must allow her to express her wishes without intimidation, citing Articles 20 and 25 of the Pakistani Constitution which guarantee religious freedom and equality before the law.

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Azam Nazeer Tarar · Chris Smith · Neha Faqir · Pakistan · Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

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