Shahida Bibi was forced to convert to Islam and married against her will. Now she’s free
By 
Tehmina Arora2025-03-25T09:05:00
Shahida Bibi was abducted, forced to convert from Christianity to Islam and sexually exploited. Tragically, she is only one of many girls who endure this fate. Her restored freedom is a sign of hope, but the fight against forced conversion and child marriage is far from over, says Tehmina Arora
Shahida Bibi, a Christian girl, was just 11 years old when her mother eloped with a Muslim man, taking Shahida with her. Her new stepfather then “gave” Shahida to his brother, who sexually exploited her. When she turned 18, she was forced into an Islamic marriage — an arrangement documented with forged conversion and marriage certificates. During her captivity, she bore two children. One was born with severe disabilities and died at the age of four.
Last month, a civil court in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, annulled Shahida’s coerced marriage and…
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