Pakistan Moves to Criminalize Forced Conversion of Christians With 5 Year Prison Sentence

Pakistan's Punjab Assembly Introduces Bill to Criminalize Forced Religious Conversions of Christians and Minorities

A Christian lawmaker in Pakistan's Punjab Assembly has introduced groundbreaking legislation that would criminalize forced religious conversions, with penalties of up to five years in prison for perpetrators.

Falbous Christopher, chairman of the assembly's Standing Committee on Minority Affairs, submitted the Punjab Protection of the Rights of Religious Minorities Bill 2026 on March 31. The bill targets those who "compel or attempt to compel" members of religious minorities to convert through threats, coercion, or undue influence.

The legislation was prompted by high profile cases, including that of Maria Shahbaz, a 13 year old Christian girl whose abduction and forced conversion sparked nationwide protests and renewed calls for stronger legal protections.

We must address root causes of intolerance through education.

Falbous Christopher told the Punjab Assembly.

Beyond criminal penalties, the bill addresses systemic discrimination by prohibiting religious bias in employment, education, and access to public services. It mandates state protection of minority places of worship and calls for a curriculum review to remove material promoting hatred or intolerance.

Courts would gain expanded authority to issue protection orders and conduct independent inquiries in forced marriage cases involving minority individuals. The bill distinguishes between forced and voluntary conversions, exempting the latter from punishment.

Efforts to pass anti forced conversion laws in Pakistan have historically faced fierce opposition. In 2021, a federal bill was shelved after resistance from Islamist parties during the government of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Council of Islamic Ideology and religious groups raised objections to provisions including minimum age requirements for conversion.

The Punjab bill will now be referred to the Standing Committee on Minority Affairs for review before a potential vote in the provincial assembly.

Christian Lawmaker Fights to Protect Religious Minorities From Forced Conversion in Pakistan

The bill represents a rare legislative push in a country where religious minorities, particularly Christian and Hindu women and girls, face persistent threats of abduction, forced marriage, and coerced conversion. Rights organizations have documented thousands of such cases, with many victims as young as 12 or 13 years old.

On March 29, Christians gathered outside the Karachi Press Club carrying placards and shouting slogans demanding protection for underage girls and stronger legislation against forced conversions and child marriages. On April 4, more than 200 Christians participated in a protest rally in Hyderabad organized by the Catholic Church's National Commission for Justice and Peace.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let's be perfectly clear about what is happening in Pakistan. Young Christian girls are being ripped from their families, forced to deny their faith, and handed over as brides to their abductors. This is not a cultural misunderstanding. This is evil. This is predatory, systemic evil that targets the most vulnerable members of the Body of Christ.

A bill with a five year prison sentence is a start, but let no one celebrate yet. We have seen this before. In 2021, Pakistan's Islamist parties killed the same type of legislation at the federal level. Ask yourself: what kind of religious authority fights to preserve the right to kidnap and forcibly convert children? The answer tells you everything you need to know.

If a Muslim girl were kidnapped and forced to become a Christian in any Western country, every government on earth would be issuing condemnations within the hour. But when it happens to our sisters in Christ? Silence. Pray for Falbous Christopher. Pray this bill survives. And demand that your leaders speak up.

Take Action

• Pray specifically for Falbous Christopher and the Punjab Assembly members who will vote on this bill. Pray for their courage and safety.
• Contact your country's ambassador to Pakistan and urge them to pressure the Pakistani government to pass anti forced conversion legislation. Find your embassy contacts at your government's foreign affairs website.
• Support The Shepherd's Shield, which works to protect persecuted Christians worldwide.
• Donate to Open Doors USA, which ranks Pakistan as the 7th most dangerous country for Christians on their World Watch List.
• Support Voice of the Martyrs, which provides legal assistance and safe houses for Christian families in Pakistan.
• Share this story on social media. The more people who know what is happening to Christians in Pakistan, the harder it becomes for the world to look away.