Justice for Arzoo Masih: 13-year-old kidnapped, forced to convert & marry

KARACHI: Twitter trends with hashtag #JusticeForArzoo demanding justice for Arzoo Masih, a 13-year-old Christian girl who was kidnapped, forced to convert and marry a 44-year-old man against her will.

Arzoo Masih, #JusticeForArzoo, Justice for Arzoo — Justice for Arzoo Masih: 13-year-old forced to convert & marry.

UPDATE: 13-year-old Arzoo Masih being shifted to shelter home.

On October 13, Arzoo Masih was playing outside her home at St. Anthony’s Parish in Karachi and later forced to convert and marry 44-year-old man named Ali Azhar residing in Railway Colony.

According to the details provided by Arzoo’s mother, Rita Masih, she and her husband received the news of her kidnapped and rushed to the police station where they filed a report.

On October 15, the police summoned both parents and presented marriage certificates and conversion documentations which claimed that Azroo Masih was 18 years old as well as converted to Islam willingly.

However, the girl’s father, Raja Lal Masih, produced government documents showing Arzoo’s real age which is 13 years old but so far the matter is still unresolved and the girl is being kept against her will.

We all have to raise our voice for Arzoo Raja until justice is served.#stopforcedconversions #JusticeForArzoo pic.twitter.com/hncXYVIycG
— Tahreem (@tweetsbytahreem) October 29, 2020

According to details, Arzoo Masih and her parents were denied the right to see their daughter by the kidnapper and later went to court where it was ruled that the marriage of the 13-year-old with a 44-year-old man was legal based on the fake documents produced in front of the court.

A 44 year old man CANNOT marry a 13 year old child
This is child rape
This is kidnapping
A child can’t be forced to convert from Christianity to Islam
A child can’t be kept away from parents
Govt must return the child to her family#JusticeForArzoo https://t.co/bEyoziNmP9
— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) October 29, 2020

People have taken to Twitter with hashtag #JusticeForArzoo demanding justice for Arzoo Masih, a 13-year-old girl who was kidnapped, forced to convert and marry someone more than thrice her age.

Not only does this constitute as child marriage which is illegal in Pakistan but also rape of minor since the man involved is 44-years-old. The government needs to step up and take action against such injustice.

Here are some Twitter reactions regarding the matter:

It’s happening under your nose @ShireenMazari1 , Dear @ImranKhanPTI how can you preach world against islamophobia if this is happening right under your nose? If we can’t protect minorities we can’t stand for our rights globally #JusticeForArzoo pic.twitter.com/AkXlOCq3Nh
— M.Zahaib Nabeel (@zahaibnabeel) October 29, 2020

#JusticeForArzoo

13 year old Arzoo was abducted from outside her home by a 44 year old man. Belonging to a Christian family, she has been forcibly converted to Islam and forcibly married to her abductor.#stopforcedconversions #JusticeforArzooRaja #JusticeForArzoo https://t.co/Vq7ZyfYhoL
— ⁧Aurat March Lahore (@AuratMarch) October 29, 2020

#JusticeForArzoo

A 13 year girl kidnapped and forcefully married to 44 year muslim… Highly condemnable,
This act of 44 year jerky Muslim is not serving ISLAM,
How can we define that " ISLAM is religion of peace" ?
Culprits should be arrested immediately #JusticeForArzoo pic.twitter.com/8qHEQ6lDVv
— ZEESHAN BANGASH (@xeeeviews) October 29, 2020

#JusticeForArzoo

The court signs off on the affidavit using the clause of FREE WILL to send off a 13 year old girl with a 44 year old man but where are the laws condemning forced conversions & child marriages?#JusticeForArzoo
Please look into this @Mustafa_PPP @Anny_Marri @KeshooBai
— maria. (@marriya_malik) October 29, 2020

#JusticeForArzoo

https://twitter.com/voice_minority/status/1320981529477156864

#JusticeForArzoo

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