Arzoo Raja was only 13 years old when her life was turned upside down. One day, she went missing from her home. Her family, worried and desperate, immediately reported her disappearance to the police. But instead of receiving help, they were handed a shocking revelation: Arzoo had allegedly “married” a 44-year-old man and “converted” to Islam.
Her parents were devastated. They knew their daughter was still a child — not even old enough to make such decisions. Yet, instead of protecting her, the system presented them with fake marriage documents, falsely stating that Arzoo was 18 years old.
To make matters worse, when her family sought justice in court, they were denied even the basic right to meet their daughter. The legal system failed them at every step, leaving a young girl trapped in a situation no child should ever face.
Sadly, Arzoo’s story is not an isolated case. Across Pakistan, Christian and minority girls are routinely abducted, forced into marriages, and pressured into religious conversions. Families are silenced, while victims are denied justice.
This is more than just one girl’s tragedy — it is a human rights crisis. Every child, regardless of faith or background, deserves protection, dignity, and the right to grow up free from coercion and abuse.
It is time for authorities, activists, and the international community to take a stand. Arzoo’s voice- and the voices of countless other girls- must not be ignored.
For more updates and detailed coverage of this case and other issues affecting the Hindu and Sindhi communities in Sindh, Pakistan, stay tuned to Sindh Renaissance.
