Pakistan: Forced marriages targeted

Iain Taylor  |  World
Date posted:  1 Jun 2024
Share Add       
Pakistan: Forced marriages targeted

Unmarried women in Punjab | photo: thedhakatimes

Christian agencies working in Pakistan are welcoming a draft Bill now before the Parliament in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province. The Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act is designed to prevent child marriages by raising the legal age for marriage for both boys and girls to 18 years.

Previously the age for girls was just six-teen. Its broader significance, if enacted, is that it should make it harder for Muslims to abduct and forcibly marry Christian girls, before then converting them to Islam.

Juliet Chowdhry of the British Asian Christian Association said: ‘Raising the female marriage age to 18 in Pakistan would provide crucial protection for all women. But Christian women are particularly vulnerable to forced conversion and marriage:

Share
< Previous article| World| Next article >
Read more articles by Iain Taylor >>
World
North Korea: ‘Rulers fear Christians’

North Korea: ‘Rulers fear Christians’

China has subjected hundreds of North Koreans to atrocities in the last year by forcibly returning them home. The North …

World
‘Evangelicals for Harris’ in late push for  votes - but face struggle as vote looms

‘Evangelicals for Harris’ in late push for votes - but face struggle as vote looms

Although many US evangelicals are backing Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has supporters among …

Need to advertise?

We can help you reach Christians across the country.

Find out more

Looking for a job?

Browse all our current job adverts

Search