Pakistani Court Custody Ruling for Christian Minor Sparks Rights Concerns

Christian rights advocates and the family of 13-year-old Amber Nadeem have publicly condemned a July 25 court ruling in Faisalabad, Pakistan, which granted custody of the minor to a man accused of her abduction. Mohsin Liaqat, who was initially arrested following the girl's disappearance on June 12, was awarded custody and granted bail by an additional district and sessions judge. The ruling occurred despite ongoing disputes regarding the girl's age and the circumstances of her alleged forced conversion and marriage.

Advocates, including representatives from Minorities Alliance Pakistan and Voice of Justice, argue that the court ignored critical evidence, including the lack of a completed medical age assessment. While the defense presented documents claiming Amber was 18, her family maintains she is 13, noting that her parents were married in 2012. The judge based the decision on an affidavit in which Amber stated she converted to Islam and married Liaqat voluntarily. However, family representatives allege that the girl was coerced into these statements and that the ruling leaves her vulnerable to further abuse.