An abducted teen girl forced to marry her captor was placed in judicial custody by one magistrate, then given to a non-relative by another.
Sixteen-year-old Mehnaz Nadeem disappeared May 15 from her home in Pakistan’s Punjab Province, the family attorney told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
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Attorney Hanif Hameed said police recovered Mehnaz on May 29 in Sialkot at a hotel where she was with Ansar Syed, the Muslim man who allegedly abducted her.
Medical evaluation found that Mehnaz had been sexually abused.
On June 4, she claimed in court to have converted to Islam and married Syed willingly.
Judicial custody
When Hameed emphasized that Mehnaz, as a minor, could not consent to marriage, a magistrate concurred and also believed her statement was made under duress. The magistrate then placed her in judicial custody.
On June 23, however, Mehnaz requested release to a Muslim woman not related to her, claiming to fear going home. Hameed opposed the request, but a different magistrate granted it anyway, Christian Daily-Morning Star reported.
Hameed said the family plans to take the case to Lahore High Court.
World Watch
Pakistan is No. 8 on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of the 50 places most difficult to be a Christian.
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