Adopted text
The abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of Maria Shahbaz and the protection of girls in Pakistan
TA-10-2026-0269 · P10_TA(2026)0269 · PE783.409
- Adopted in plenary on · Adopted 0–0–0 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2026/2801
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
Parliament condemns the abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of Maria Shahbaz and similar abuses in Pakistan, and calls for protection, justice and legal reforms.¶¶¶ It demands Pakistan repeal blasphemy laws, implement child marriage legislation, support victims, and address root causes; the EU should raise these issues and consider withdrawing GSP+ status if commitments are not met.¶¶¶
Key points
- Strongly condemns the abduction, forced conversion to Islam, child marriage and ruling in the case of Maria Shahbaz, and similar abuses of underage girls from religious minorities in Pakistan.¶
- Calls on the Pakistani Government to ensure transparent and independent investigations of cases involving minors or coercion, effective prosecution of perpetrators, and safe return of abducted girls.¶
- Calls on Pakistani authorities to ensure immediate protection of Maria Shahbaz, access to legal representation, psychological support and family, and a thorough review of her case with due process and best interests of the child.¶
- Strongly condemns systematic persecution of Christians in Pakistan and demands repeal of blasphemy laws and an end to persecution of Christians and other religious minorities.¶
- Urges the Pakistani judiciary to uphold the rule of law and ensure proceedings involving minority girls are free from external pressure, intimidation or coercion, with capacity-building.¶
- Welcomes provincial legislative steps against child marriage and urges Pakistan to adopt and fully implement the national framework and enforce provincial legislation; calls on other provinces to adopt equivalent laws.¶
- Encourages Pakistan to create a national mechanism for complaints from families of abducted or forcibly converted girls and calls for comprehensive victim support including shelters, legal aid, counselling and reintegration.¶
- Calls for addressing root causes of forced marriage and conversion, including gender inequality, poverty, social exclusion and discrimination, and targeted protection for minority girls, especially in education and social protection.
- Calls on the EU and Member States to raise forced conversions and marriages and protection of minorities in bilateral dialogues with Pakistan, including GSP+ monitoring, and recalls that failure to implement human rights commitments should result in withdrawal of GSP+ status.¶
Who is affected
- Maria Shahbaz and other underage girls from religious minorities in Pakistan who face abduction, forced conversion and child marriage.¶¶
- The Pakistani Government and authorities, who are called on to investigate, protect, and implement legal reforms.¶¶
- The Pakistani judiciary, urged to ensure fair proceedings without external pressure.¶
- The EU and its Member States, called on to raise these issues in dialogues with Pakistan and consider GSP+ withdrawal.¶