A recent court ruling has brought a glimmer of hope to the family of a Pakistani Christian girl embroiled in a contentious legal battle over her alleged forced conversion to Islam. As debates over her age continue, the court has decided to place her in a neutral environment until further clarity is achieved.
Sonia Tariq disappeared in late 2024, only to be discovered later married to a Muslim man and having converted to Islam. While Tariq insists that her conversion was by choice and she does not wish to reunite with her Christian family, the central issue remains her age.
There is a significant discrepancy regarding Tariq’s age. She claims to be 20 years old, yet her family argues she is just 15, a claim corroborated by official documentation. Due to potential inaccuracies in Pakistan’s official records, the court has mandated a medical test to determine her true age.
Pending these results, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ordered that Tariq reside in a government shelter. This move has been met with approval from The Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS-UK), which has been supporting Tariq’s family.
Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS-UK, expressed optimism about the court’s decision: “We are encouraged by the Federal Constitutional Court’s decision to place Sonia in a safe and neutral environment and to order an independent medical assessment of her age. This reflects a serious and balanced approach by the bench in a highly sensitive case.”
He further added, “We have been pursuing this case since 2024 in close partnership with The Edge Foundation in Pakistan. For nearly two years, the family has been seeking justice under extremely difficult circumstances. Today’s development gives renewed hope – not only to this family, but to many others facing similar situations.”
The case is set to progress with another hearing scheduled for 20 May.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
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