Medical Examination Ordered for 13-Year-Old Christian Girl Allegedly Abducted and Forced Into Marriage in Pakistan
June 30, 2026
A Pakistani court has ordered a medical examination to determine the age of Amber Nadeem, a 13-year-old Christian girl who was allegedly abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and married to a Muslim man.
The case raises serious concerns about the protection of Christian minors, the misuse of disputed age documents, and whether Pakistan’s child-protection laws are being enforced equally for vulnerable religious minorities.
Christian Girl’s Age Challenged in Court
Amber Nadeem, 13, was allegedly abducted on June 12 in Faisalabad, Punjab Province, while she was on her way to a local market. According to rights advocate Joseph Janssen, she was taken by a Muslim man identified as Mohsin Liaqat.
Amber’s parents, Nadeem Masih and Nadia Nadeem, reportedly spent three days asking police to register a First Information Report (FIR). According to Janssen, the delay gave the suspect’s family time to produce documents claiming that Amber had converted to Islam and married Liaqat.
The documents reportedly listed Amber’s age as 18, despite her family maintaining that she was only 13. A marriage certificate presented by the suspect’s family was therefore challenged by the girl’s legal team. Church records were presented as evidence of Amber’s age, along with her parents’ marriage certificate, which reportedly showed that her parents married in 2012—making the age claimed in the marriage documents impossible, according to Janssen.
A judicial magistrate subsequently heard Amber’s statement. She reportedly told the court that the suspect’s family had coached her to falsely claim that she was an adult. The court has now ordered a medical examination to help establish her age.
Child Protection Versus Religious Pressure
The case has also raised a fundamental question: can a 13-year-old child legally and freely consent to religious conversion, marriage, or a transfer of custody under circumstances involving an alleged abduction?
The legal team representing Amber challenged the documents and invoked the recently enacted Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026. According to the reports, the legislation emphasizes protecting children from harmful practices and requires authorities to prioritize their safety, dignity, education and protection from abuse.
The suspect’s lawyers reportedly argued that because Amber had converted to Islam, she could not legally return to her Christian parents and raised religious objections concerning apostasy. Amber’s legal representatives countered that the central issue was the protection of a minor and whether a child of her age has the legal capacity to consent to conversion, marriage or custody arrangements.
This distinction is critical. A child-protection case should not become a religious contest in which the alleged conversion of a minor overrides questions of age, consent, safety and possible coercion.
A Family Left Fighting for Their Daughter
Amber’s parents are reportedly daily wage workers living in extreme poverty. According to the reports, they repeatedly sought police assistance after their daughter disappeared but struggled to have their complaint registered.
After intervention by rights advocates, the accused was arrested and Amber was placed in protective custody with the Faisalabad Police’s Gender-Based Violence Unit while the legal proceedings continued.
The family’s distress deepened during subsequent court proceedings. Amber’s mother, Nadia Nadeem, reportedly became ill following the hearing and required hospitalization. She has publicly appealed for help in recovering her daughter.
For parents already living in poverty, navigating police procedures and court proceedings while trying to protect a missing child can be overwhelming. The case demonstrates why vulnerable minority families need meaningful access to law enforcement and justice—not simply laws that exist on paper.
CPRP: A Child’s Faith and Safety Must Be Protected
Christian Persecution Relief Pakistan (CPRP) is deeply concerned by the circumstances surrounding Amber Nadeem’s case and the questions raised about her age, alleged abduction, conversion and marriage.
CPRP states:
“The case of Amber Nadeem is not simply a dispute over documents or religion. It is a child-protection issue involving a vulnerable Christian girl whose family says she was taken from them and whose age and ability to consent are now being questioned. A child must never be placed in a situation where alleged coercion, religious pressure or disputed documentation can determine her future.”
CPRP calls on Pakistani authorities to ensure that Amber receives full protection, independent legal representation and a transparent judicial process. Any medical examination or age determination must be conducted independently and fairly, while all allegations of abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage must be properly investigated.
The law must protect every child equally, regardless of religion or social status. Christian minority families should not have to fight against poverty, police inaction and legal uncertainty simply to have their children protected.
CPRP stands with Amber Nadeem and her family and calls for justice, accountability and the immediate protection of vulnerable Christian children throughout Pakistan.