Thirteen year old Christian girl abducted, converted and married to a 43 year old man

Early day motion 1066, tabled 2 November 2020 by Jim Shannon (DUP). Signed by 11 members.

That this House notes with grave concern reports from Pakistan that on 13 October 2020, a 13-year-old Christian girl Arzoo Raja, was abducted from a street near her home in Karachi, forced to convert to Islam and marry the abductor, 43 year old Mr Ali Azhar; is further concerned that, despite her family producing a National Database and Registration Authority birth certificate showing Arzoo to be 13 years old, the authorities failed to stop the illegal marriage, and the Sindh Police has failed to rescue her so far; understands that Arzoo’s parents are being threatened by the abductor’s family and calls on the Government to lobby the Pakistani authorities to intervene and help Arzoo and other Pakistani Christian and Hindu girls who are kidnapped, forced to convert and marry their abductor every year.

Signatures by party: DUP 4, Conservative 3, Scottish National Party 2, Independent 1, Labour 1.