Christian parents in Pakistan seek return of teenage son after alleged forced conversion

The parents of 15-year-old Sagar Masih are calling for his return after alleging he was coerced into converting to Islam while working at a factory in Pakistan’s Punjab province. According to the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS-UK), the family claims their son was pressured by co-workers who offered rewards and required him to participate in Islamic prayer practices. The family reports that the factory allegedly registered the boy under the name "Sagar Muhammad" rather than his legal name.

After searching for the teenager, his parents discovered video footage of him with religious clerics. When the family approached local police, they were informed that the conversion was considered official and that the matter would need to be resolved through the court system. While family members allege that Sagar initially expressed a desire to return home, they claim he was later pressured to remain separated from them. CLAAS-UK Director Nasir Saeed has expressed concern over the case, emphasizing that religious freedom should not involve the exploitation of vulnerable children.