Written questions, answers and statements

Maira Shahbaz

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Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

UIN 92637, tabled on 22 September 2020

Question

Theresa Villiers
Conservative
Chipping Barnet
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Pakistani Government about the welfare of Maria Shahbaz, the 14-year-old Christian girl who was kidnapped and forcibly married and converted to Islam in Faisalabad in April 2020.

Answer

Nigel Adams
Conservative
Selby and Ainsty
Commons

Answered on

25 September 2020

We are closely monitoring Maira Shahbaz's case following her reported abduction in April. The UK Government strongly condemns the forced marriage and forced conversion of women and girls. We regularly raise our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief, women and girl's rights and gender equality with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level. Most recently, on 27 August, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon raised our human rights concerns including Freedom of Religion of Belief with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari. In addition, on 8 September, Lord Ahmad discussed Freedom of Religion Belief with the Governor of Punjab.

Answered by

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
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