Pakistani court places forced marriage victim in state asylum pending determination of her age

In Pakistan, a court has ordered that a young Christian woman, Sonia Tariq, be placed in a neutral state-run shelter while a medical examination is conducted to determine her exact age. The decision was a key step in the case of alleged kidnapping, forced conversion to Islam and marriage to a minor.

According to Christian Today, Sonia Tariq went missing in late 2024. It was later revealed that she had married an older Muslim man and changed her religion. While Sonia herself claims that she is 20 years old and acted voluntarily, her family insists that the girl is only 15 years old, which is confirmed by official documents.

Due to the fact that government records in Pakistan are not always recognized as reliable, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ordered an independent medical examination. Pending the results, Sonia will be under state protection in a specialized shelter. Nasir Saeed, director of the CLAAS-UK organization, welcomed the decision, noting the «balanced approach» of the judicial panel in this highly sensitive matter.

Human rights defenders from The Center for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement and The Edge Foundation have been following the Tariq family’s case for nearly two years. According to the defense representatives, the current developments give hope for a fair outcome not only for this family, but also for many others in similar situations. The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for May 20.